Darkened
ˈdɑːrkənd
Definitions
To make something darker or to become darker.
ˈdɑːrkənd
To make or become dark.
The clouds darkened the sky.
💡 Simply: Imagine a sunny room. If you close the blinds, you darken it. Darkened means it gets less light. Like when the lights go out!
👶 For kids: When something gets darker, like when the sun goes down or when you turn off the lights.
More Examples
As the sun set, the room darkened.
He darkened his bedroom by closing the curtains.
How It's Used
"The sky darkened as the storm approached."
"The room darkened, revealing shadows where there had been light."
Synonyms & Antonyms
Synonyms
From Old English *deorcian* (to become dark), derived from *deorc* (dark). The '-en' suffix indicates a verb, denoting a process of becoming.
The word 'darken' and its past tense 'darkened' have been in use since the Middle Ages, often used in descriptions of weather, physical environments, and emotional states.
Memory tip
Think of 'darken' as the process of things becoming more dark, like closing the curtains at night.
Word Origin
"to make or become dark"