Dark describes places or times with little or no light. A dark room has no lights on and maybe curtains drawn across the windows. The sky grows dark as the sun sets each evening. A dark forest has thick trees that block out sunlight.

The word also describes colors that contain more black than white: dark blue looks almost like navy, while light blue looks closer to the sky. Dark hair is brown or black rather than blonde. Dark wood, like walnut or mahogany, has rich, deep brown tones.

When describing situations or moods, dark means gloomy, mysterious, or frightening. A dark fairy tale might include scary elements like wicked witches or dangerous forests. Someone in a dark mood feels sad or angry.

The word can describe serious or sinister things too. A villain might have a dark secret they're hiding. A dark horse is a competitor who unexpectedly wins because nobody knew they were so talented.

Notice how darkness isn't always bad: a dark, cozy room can feel safe for sleeping, and dark chocolate tastes richer than milk chocolate. But darkness often represents the unknown, which humans naturally find both mysterious and a little frightening.

As a noun, dark means the absence of light. You might wait until dark to see fireflies, or feel your way through the dark when the power goes out.