Pale describes something that has very little color, especially when compared to what's normal or expected. A pale face looks lighter than usual, often because someone is sick, scared, or hasn't been in the sun much. A pale blue shirt is a soft, light blue rather than a deep, rich blue.

When something becomes pale, we say it pales. If you hear scary news, you might pale as blood drains from your face. The sunrise makes the stars pale and fade from view as daylight grows stronger.

The word also appears in the phrase beyond the pale, meaning completely unacceptable or outside normal limits. If a student's behavior goes beyond the pale, they've crossed a line into something that can't be tolerated.

When comparing things, we say one thing pales in comparison to another when it seems much less impressive. Your weekend camping trip might be fun, but it pales in comparison to your friend's month exploring national parks. The comparison makes the first thing seem weaker or less significant, like how colors look washed out next to something brighter.