dark
gb/dˈɑɹk/ us/dˈɑɹk/
A1
English
~ 2400
Senses
0 senses
adjective
A1
property
1
having little or no light
Having very little or no light.
Usage pattern:
a dark [place/room/night]
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse 'dark' with 'black'. 'Dark' describes lighting conditions, while 'black' refers to a color.
Synonyms
dim (Suggests low light, but not complete absence of light.)
Antonyms
bright (Indicates a lot of light or illumination.)
Collocations
dark room
|dark night
|dark corner
|dark sky
|dark alley
Themes
daily life
|environment
|daily_life
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- The room was dark because the curtains were closed.
- It gets dark early in the winter.
- We walked through a dark tunnel.
Learner examples
- The room is dark.
- It is dark outside.
- The tunnel is dark.
adjective
A2
property
2
having a deep color tone
Having a strong, deep color, not light.
Usage pattern:
a dark [color/shade/hair/skin]
Common mistake:
Learners may confuse 'dark' for colors with 'black', but 'dark' can apply to many colors, not just black.
Synonyms
deep-colored (Formal or technical term for intense color.)
Antonyms
light-colored (Refers to pale or less intense colors.)
Collocations
dark hair
|dark skin
|dark eyes
|dark blue
|dark green
Themes
appearance
|art
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- He has dark brown eyes.
- She painted the wall a dark shade of blue.
- The dress is made of dark green silk.
Learner examples
- She has dark hair.
- I like dark blue.
- He wears a dark shirt.
adjective
B2
property
3
having evil or threatening qualities
Seeming bad, dangerous, or evil.
Usage pattern:
a dark [past/secret/plan]
Synonyms
sinister (More formal and strongly suggests evil intent.)
Antonyms
innocent (Free from guilt, evil, or harm.)
Collocations
dark secret
|dark past
|dark mood
|dark plot
Themes
emotions
|crime
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- The novel takes a dark turn in the final chapters.
- He had a dark past he never spoke about.
- There was a dark mood in the room.
Learner examples
- He has a dark secret.
- The movie has a dark story.
- She felt a dark fear.
Noun
A2
state
4
absence of light
A time or place with no light.
Synonyms
darkness ('Darkness' is slightly more formal and less common in everyday speech as a noun.)
Antonyms
light (The presence of illumination.)
Collocations
in the dark
|total dark
Themes
daily life
|nature
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- We waited in the dark for the power to return.
- Cats can see well in the dark.
- The cave was completely dark inside.
Learner examples
- I can't see in the dark.
- We sat in the dark.
- The room was in the dark.
adjective
A2
property
5
having darker skin or hair tone
Having hair or skin that is not light in color.
Usage pattern:
a person with dark [hair/skin/eyes]
Synonyms
brunette (Usually refers specifically to women with brown hair; narrower scope than 'dark'.)
Antonyms
fair-skinned (Describes people with light skin tone.)
Collocations
dark complexion
|dark eyebrows
Themes
appearance
|body
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- She has long, dark hair.
- They are known for their naturally dark skin.
- He has dark eyes like his mother.
Learner examples
- She has dark skin.
- He has dark eyes.
- My friend has dark hair.
Grammar
Dictionary form
dark
IPA
GB/dˈɑɹk/
US/dˈɑɹk/
Syllables & stress
dark (1 syllable)
Stress on 1st syllable (dark)
Word forms
Adjective
- Base: dark
- Comparative: darker
- Superlative: darkest
Noun
- Base: dark
- Plural: dark
Word family
Expressions
a shot in the dark
1/ə ʃˈɑt ˈɪn ðə dˈɑɹk/
idiom
informal
guess without sufficient information
A guess when you have no facts to help you decide.
Examples
- It was just a shot in the dark, but I guessed right.
- Choosing that answer was a shot in the dark.
after dark
1/ˈæftɚ dˈɑɹk/
fixed phrase
after sunset; at night time
After the sun goes down and it becomes night.
Examples
- It’s not safe to walk here after dark.
- The park closes after dark.
pitch dark
1/pˈɪt͡ʃ dˈɑɹk/
fixed phrase
completely without any light
Very, very dark with no light at all.
Examples
- It was pitch dark inside the cave.
- The street was pitch dark after the lights went out.
in the dark
1/ˈɪn ðə dˈɑɹk/
idiom
unaware of something
Not knowing about something because you have not been told.
Examples
- I was completely in the dark about their plans.
- She kept me in the dark about the surprise party.
in the dark
2/ˈɪn ðə dˈɑɹk/
idiom
not informed about something important
Not knowing about something important.
Examples
- We were kept in the dark about the changes.
- She felt in the dark about her future.