What does "darker" mean?

1. (less light) having less light than something else. 2. (deeper colour) closer to black or having a deeper shade of a colour. 3. (serious or sad) more serious, sad, or frightening than before.

darker

adj.

US //ˈdɑɹkɝ// UK //dˈɑːkɐ// dark·er

1 less light (adj.)
A2 Elementary

having less light than something else.

characterised by a greater absence of light or illumination compared to another area or time.

Example

The hallway became darker as the sun went down and the lights stayed off.

Example

The forest grew significantly darker as the canopy thickened, making it difficult for the hikers to distinguish the trail from the surrounding undergrowth.
- dimmer
- shadowier
- lighter
- brighter
2 deeper colour (adj.)
A2 Elementary

closer to black or having a deeper shade of a colour.

possessing a deeper or more saturated hue that approaches black in the colour spectrum.

Example

I prefer the darker blue paint for the bedroom walls.

Example

The artist applied a darker shade of crimson to the shadows of the velvet drapes to create a sense of three-dimensional depth.
- deeper
- richer
- paler
- fainter

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3 serious or sad (adj.)
B1 Intermediate

more serious, sad, or frightening than before.

reflecting a more somber, pessimistic, or sinister quality in tone or subject matter.

Example

The movie took a darker turn when the main character lost his job.

Example

Critics noted that the sequel explored much darker themes of betrayal and loss compared to the relatively lighthearted original film.
- bleaker
- grimmer
- cheerier
- lighter