black
gb/blˈæk/ us/blˈæk/
A1
English
~ 600
Senses
0 senses
adjective
A1
property
1
Having the darkest color
Being the darkest color, like the night when there is no light.
Usage pattern:
[something] is black
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse 'black' with 'dark', but 'dark' can describe any color or low light, not just pure black.
Synonyms
dark (Less specific; refers to low light or deep colors, not always pure black.)
Antonyms
white (The lightest color, reflecting almost all light.)
Collocations
black hair
|black clothes
|black shoes
|black sky
Themes
colors
|visual
|daily life
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- She wore a black dress to the party.
- The cat's fur was completely black.
- The sky turned black before the storm began.
- He painted the door black to match the shutters.
Learner examples
- My bag is black.
- The car is black.
- I have a black shirt.
- The night is black.
Noun
A1
entity
2
The darkest color
The darkest color, made when there is no light.
Usage pattern:
[something] is in black
Synonyms
darkness (Refers to lack of light in general, not necessarily the color.)
Antonyms
white (The opposite color, reflecting most light.)
Collocations
in black
|black and white
|shades of black
Themes
colors
|visual
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- Black is my favorite color.
- The painting uses a lot of black to create contrast.
- He always dresses in black.
Learner examples
- Black is my favorite color.
- I see black on the paper.
- She wears black.
adjective
B1
property
3
Relating to people of African descent
Describing a person with dark skin, especially from Africa or with African family history.
Usage pattern:
[someone] is Black
Common mistake:
Learners may confuse 'Black' (capitalized for ethnicity) with 'black' (color). Capitalization matters in formal writing when referring to ethnicity.
Synonyms
African American (Commonly used in the US for Americans of African descent; more specific to nationality.)
Antonyms
white (Describing people with light skin, usually of European descent.)
Collocations
Black community
|Black culture
|Black history
Themes
people
|identity
|relationships
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- She is a Black woman working in technology.
- Black culture has influenced music around the world.
- The museum has an exhibit on Black history.
Learner examples
- He is a Black man.
- Black people live here.
- I read about Black history.
adjective
B2
property
4
Associated with mourning or sadness
Connected with feeling sad or remembering someone who died.
Usage pattern:
a black [event/day/time]
Synonyms
gloomy (General low mood; not necessarily connected to death or mourning.)
Antonyms
joyful (Full of happiness and positive feelings.)
Collocations
black mood
|black day
|black thoughts
Themes
emotions
|culture
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- It was a black day for the company when it closed its doors.
- She has been in a black mood all week.
- History remembers it as one of the nation's blackest hours.
Learner examples
- It was a black day for us.
- He is in a black mood today.
- That was a black time in my life.
Verb
B2
action
5
To make something dark in color
To change something so its color becomes black.
Usage pattern:
to black [something]
Synonyms
darken (Make darker but not necessarily fully black.)
Antonyms
whiten (Make something white in color.)
Collocations
black shoes
|black tires
Themes
colors
|art
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- Smoke had blacked the walls of the room.
- They blacked their faces for camouflage at night.
- The artist blacked the canvas before starting the painting.
Learner examples
- I will black my shoes.
- The fire blacked the pot.
- They blacked the wall.
Grammar
Dictionary form
black
IPA
GB/blˈæk/
US/blˈæk/
Syllables & stress
black (1 syllable)
Stress on 1st syllable (black)
Word forms
Adjective
- Base: black
- Comparative: blacker
- Superlative: blackest
Noun
- Base: black
- Plural: black, blacks
Verb
- Base: black
- 3rd Person Singular: blacks
- Present Participle: blacking
- Past: blacked
Word family
Forms
blacks
noun
blacking
verb
blacked
verb
blacker
adjective
blackest
adjective
Core family
blacken
verb
blackness
noun
Related words
blackish
adjective
Negative and opposite forms
white
adjective A1
Advanced or less common
blackly
adverb
Expressions
black and white
1/blˈæk ˈænd wˈaɪt/
fixed phrase
Only two opposite colors present
Only using the colors black and white, with no other colors.
Examples
- The old movie was filmed in black and white.
- She prefers black-and-white photography for its classic look.
black market
1/blˈæk mˈɑɹkɪt/
fixed phrase
Illegal trade system for goods/services
A place or system where people buy and sell things illegally.
Examples
- They bought foreign currency on the black market.
- The police are cracking down on the black market for stolen electronics.
black out
1/blˈæk ˈaʊt/
phrasal verb
Lose consciousness or memory suddenly
To suddenly faint or not remember what happened for a short time.
Examples
- He blacked out after hitting his head on the doorframe.
- She sometimes blacks out when she stands up too quickly.
in the black
1/ˈɪn ðə blˈæk/
idiom
Financially profitable or solvent
Having more money than you owe; making a profit.
Examples
- After a tough year, the company is finally in the black again.
- Small businesses struggle to stay in the black during economic downturns.
black sheep (of the family)
1/blˈæk ʃˈip əv ðə fˈæmɪli/
idiom
informal
Family member who is an outcast or disgrace
A person who is very different from others in their family and seen as bad or causing shame.
Examples
- He's always been the black sheep of the family because he refused to join the family business.
- In school, she felt like the black sheep among her classmates.
black sheep (of the family)
2/blˈæk ʃˈip əv ðə fˈæmɪli/
idiom
Outcast or disreputable family member
A person in a family or group who is different in a bad way or causes shame.
Examples
- He's the black sheep of the family because he refuses to work.
- She felt like the black sheep among her friends.