shadow
gb/ʃˈædoʊ/ us/ʃˈædoʊ/
A2
English
~ 2200
Senses
0 senses
Noun
A2
entity
1
Dark shape caused by blocked light
A dark shape made when something stops the light.
Usage pattern:
[something] casts a shadow [on/over] [something]
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse 'shadow' with 'shade'; 'shade' refers to the area of reduced light, while 'shadow' is the specific shape caused by an object blocking light.
Synonyms
silhouette (Refers to the outline of an object, usually against light, not necessarily the full shaded area.)
Antonyms
light (Light is the opposite of the darkness that forms a shadow.)
Collocations
cast a shadow
|in the shadow of
|long shadow
|dark shadow
Themes
nature
|daily life
|vision
|science
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- The tree cast a long shadow across the yard.
- Her shadow stretched out in front of her in the morning sun.
- I saw the shadow of a bird pass over the window.
Learner examples
- The cat sat in the shadow of the wall.
- My shadow is short at noon.
- There is a shadow on the ground.
Noun
B1
entity
2
Area of darkness from blocked light
A place that is darker because something is stopping the light.
Usage pattern:
in/into/out of the shadow(s)
Common mistake:
Confusing 'shadow' (specific darkness caused by an object) with 'darkness' (absence of light in general).
Synonyms
shade (Shade often refers to cooler, darker areas away from sunlight; not always the distinct shape of a shadow.)
Antonyms
sunlight (Represents bright, direct light, opposite to shadow as darkness.)
Collocations
stand in the shadows
|hide in the shadows
|deep shadows
Themes
nature
|daily life
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- He waited in the shadows until everyone left.
- The cool shadows under the bridge were inviting on a hot day.
- A figure emerged from the shadows.
Learner examples
- The dog sleeps in the shadows.
- I saw a man in the shadows.
- We sat in the shadows to stay cool.
Verb
B2
action
3
Follow someone secretly
To follow someone quietly without them knowing.
Usage pattern:
to shadow [someone]
Common mistake:
Learners may confuse 'shadow' here with physical shadows; this meaning is metaphorical and about following.
Synonyms
tail (Informal term used especially in police or spy contexts for following someone.)
Antonyms
ignore (To deliberately not follow or pay attention to someone.)
Collocations
shadow a suspect
|shadow an opponent
|police shadowed him
Themes
crime
|security
|law
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- The detective was assigned to shadow the suspect.
- Bodyguards shadowed the celebrity throughout her visit.
- Journalists shadowed the politician during his campaign.
Learner examples
- The police shadowed the thief.
- A guard will shadow the president.
- The man was shadowed by a spy.
Verb
B1
action
4
Observe someone at work to learn
To follow someone at work to learn what they do.
Usage pattern:
to shadow [someone] [at work/in their job]
Common mistake:
Learners may confuse this with 'follow secretly'; here it is done openly and for learning purposes.
Synonyms
observe (More general; does not imply close, continuous presence for learning.)
Antonyms
participate (To actively take part rather than just observe.)
Collocations
shadow a teacher
|shadow a nurse
|job shadowing
Themes
education
|work
Examples
- She will shadow a senior nurse for two weeks before starting her own shifts.
- Students can shadow professionals to explore career options.
- I spent a day shadowing my friend at his office.
Learner examples
- I will shadow a chef to learn cooking.
- He shadows a doctor at the hospital.
- We can shadow a teacher for one day.
Noun
B2
entity
5
Symbolic dark figure of threat or fear
Something dark that means danger or bad things might happen.
Synonyms
omen (Specifically refers to a sign of future events, often negative, rather than a constant looming presence.)
Antonyms
hope (Represents positive expectation, opposite to looming threat or fear.)
Collocations
a shadow hangs over [something]
|under the shadow of war
Themes
emotions
|literature
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- The shadow of war loomed over the country.
- His past cast a long shadow over his career.
- A shadow hung over the celebration after the news broke.
Learner examples
- The shadow of war is near.
- Bad news cast a shadow over the party.
- A dark shadow was over his life.
Grammar
Dictionary form
shadow
IPA
GB/ʃˈædoʊ/
US/ʃˈædoʊ/
Syllables & stress
shad - ow (2 syllables)
Stress on 1st syllable (shad)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: shadow
- Plural: shadow, shadows
Verb
- Base: shadow
- 3rd Person Singular: shadows
- Present Participle: shadowing
- Past: shadowed
Word family
Forms
shadows
noun
shadowing
verb
shadowed
verb
Core family
shadowy
adjective B2
Advanced or less common
overshadow
verb C1
foreshadow
verb
Expressions
a shadow of one's former self
1/ə ʃˈædoʊ əv wˈʌnz fˈɔɹmɚ sˈɛlf/
idiom
Much weaker or less capable than before
When someone is much weaker, less healthy, or less confident than they were before.
Examples
- After his illness, he was just a shadow of his former self.
- The team is now only a shadow of its former self.
cast a shadow over/on something
1/kˈæst ə ʃˈædoʊ ˈoʊvɚən sˈʌmθɪŋ/
idiom
Cause sadness or trouble for an event
To make something less happy or good because of something sad or bad.
Examples
- The scandal cast a shadow over his achievements.
- Her illness cast a shadow on their wedding day.
in someone's shadow
1/ˈɪn sˈʌmwˌʌnz ʃˈædoʊ/
idiom
Be less noticed than another person
To not get much attention because someone else is more important or famous.
Examples
- He has always lived in his brother's shadow.
- She felt she was in her colleague’s shadow at work.
job shadowing
1/d͡ʒˈɑb ʃˈædoʊɪŋ/
fixed phrase
Observing work for learning purposes
Spending time watching someone at work to learn what they do.
Examples
- Job shadowing can help students choose careers.
- I learned about engineering through job shadowing.
shadow of a doubt
1/ʃˈædoʊ əv ə dˈaʊt/
fixed phrase
Very small amount of doubt exists
A very small amount of doubt about something being true or real.
Examples
- There isn't a shadow of a doubt that he is guilty.
- I believe her story without a shadow of a doubt.