# darkness

/ˈdɑɹknəs/ (US) · /dˈɑːknəs/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/darkness
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 1. absence of light

noun · CEFR A2

a state where there is little or no light, making it difficult to see.

For teachers: the total or partial absence of light in a physical space.

- The power went out and the room was plunged into total darkness.
- The hikers struggled to find the trail in the absolute darkness of the forest after their only flashlight failed.

Usage: Usually uncountable, but can take an article when describing a specific type of dark environment.

### 2. nighttime

noun · CEFR B1

the time of day when it is dark outside, usually after the sun goes down.

For teachers: the period of night or the onset of nightfall.

- It is safer to finish your walk before darkness falls.
- They preferred to travel under the cover of darkness to avoid the sweltering heat of the desert sun.

### 3. sadness or evil

noun · CEFR B2 · Literary

a feeling of being very unhappy, or a quality that seems scary and evil.

For teachers: a metaphorical state of gloom, depression, or moral wickedness.

- The movie tells a story about the darkness inside a person's heart.
- The poet used the image of encroaching darkness to symbolize the protagonist's growing despair and isolation from society.

Usage: Often used in literature to represent internal struggle or external threats.

Teaching tip: Remind students that this is a common metaphor in English stories and films.

### 4. lack of knowledge

noun · CEFR C1 · Formal · Literary

a state of not knowing or understanding something.

For teachers: a state of ignorance or a lack of information regarding a specific subject.

- For many years, the public was kept in darkness about the government's secret plans.
- The historical records are thin, leaving much of the civilization's daily life shrouded in darkness.

Usage: Commonly found in the phrase 'in the darkness' regarding information.

Teaching tip: In modern business English, 'in the dark' is much more common than 'in the darkness' for this meaning.

## Examples

- The cat can see perfectly in the darkness.
- After the power cut, the entire neighborhood was plunged into total darkness for several hours.
- The poet uses darkness not merely as a physical setting, but as a profound symbol for the character's internal struggle with grief and isolation.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.