darkness
- 01 A2 Elementary
a state where there is little or no light, making it difficult to see.
the total or partial absence of light in a physical space.
Simple“The power went out and the room was plunged into total darkness.”
In context“The hikers struggled to find the trail in the absolute darkness of the forest after their only flashlight failed.”
UsageUsually uncountable, but can take an article when describing a specific type of dark environment.
Antonyms - 02 B1 Intermediate
the time of day when it is dark outside, usually after the sun goes down.
the period of night or the onset of nightfall.
Simple“It is safer to finish your walk before darkness falls.”
In context“They preferred to travel under the cover of darkness to avoid the sweltering heat of the desert sun.”
- 03 B2 Upper Intermediate
a feeling of being very unhappy, or a quality that seems scary and evil.
a metaphorical state of gloom, depression, or moral wickedness.
Simple“The movie tells a story about the darkness inside a person's heart.”
In context“The poet used the image of encroaching darkness to symbolize the protagonist's growing despair and isolation from society.”
UsageOften used in literature to represent internal struggle or external threats.
Teacher's tipRemind students that this is a common metaphor in English stories and films.
Synonyms - 04 C1 Advanced
a state of not knowing or understanding something.
a state of ignorance or a lack of information regarding a specific subject.
Simple“For many years, the public was kept in darkness about the government's secret plans.”
In context“The historical records are thin, leaving much of the civilization's daily life shrouded in darkness.”
UsageCommonly found in the phrase 'in the darkness' regarding information.
Teacher's tipIn modern business English, 'in the dark' is much more common than 'in the darkness' for this meaning.
Antonyms
“The light coming from the darkness was the Sun's corona - superheated jets of gas thrown thousands of miles out into space.”
“For about 40 minutes, the four astronauts will be alone, each with their own thoughts and feelings, travelling through the darkness of space.”
From Middle English derknesse, from Old English deorcnes; equivalent to dark + -ness.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.