WordGarden.ioshadow
A2Pronunciation
UK
- /ʃˈædəʊ/
US
- /ˈʃæˌdoʊ/
Meanings
Noun
a dark shape or shaded area caused when something blocks light
a looming sign or feeling of trouble, fear, or sadness
a reduced, subordinate, or less visible version of someone or something
Verb
to follow, observe, or accompany someone closely
Adjective
acting as the unofficial counterpart to an officeholder or organization
Beyond the definition
A shadow is the dark shape or area that appears when something blocks light. If you stand in the sun, it moves when you move and stretches across the ground beside you. That is the most common meaning, and it is the one most people learn first.
But the word also travels into everyday figurative English. It can mean a hidden influence, as in living in the shadow of someone more famous or powerful. It can mean only a small amount, as in a shadow of doubt or a shadow of hope. As a verb, it can mean following someone closely, often to watch, protect, or learn from them. In many situations, the word carries the feeling of something dark, quiet, nearby, or not fully seen.
In its most literal sense, a shadow is the dark shape made when a person or object blocks light. On a bright day, trees, cars, and people all cast one. It changes with the angle of the light, growing longer in the evening and shorter when the sun is high. This is the basic, physical meaning of the word, and it is still the most common one.
From there, the word opens into many figurative uses. A shadow can be something dark or unclear at the edge of sight, which is why it often appears in stories about fear, mystery, or danger. A shadowy person or place feels hidden, uncertain, or hard to trust. The word naturally carries ideas of secrecy, distance, and things that are not fully known.
It also often describes the effect of one person or thing being dominated by another. If someone lives in the shadow of a parent, sibling, or public figure, they are seen mainly in relation to that stronger presence. In that sense, the word suggests pressure, comparison, and a loss of space to stand out on your own.
Another common use is for a very small sign or amount of something. A shadow of doubt, a shadow of hope, or a shadow of a smile all suggest that something is there, but only faintly. The word is useful here because it gives the sense of a feeling that has shape, yet is still weak and hard to hold.
As a verb, shadow means to follow closely. A detective may shadow a suspect, a bodyguard may shadow a client, and a student may shadow a doctor at work to learn by watching. In each case, the idea is the same: staying near, moving with someone, and often remaining in the background.
Taken together, shadow is a rich everyday word. It can name a real patch of darkness on the ground, a hidden influence over a life, a faint trace of feeling, or the act of quietly following behind. That range is what gives the word its power: it speaks both to what we can see clearly and to what remains partly concealed.
Examples
- 1
Shade
We sat in the shadow of the wall to stay cool.
- 2
Family comparison
Her older sister was a famous athlete, and she grew up in her shadow.
- Phrasein someone's shadow
receiving less attention because that person is more successful or better known
- 3
Bad news
The recent layoffs have cast a shadow over the whole office.
- Phrasecast a shadow over
make something seem less happy or hopeful
- 4
Weakness after illness
After the illness, he was only a shadow of his former self.
- Phrasea shadow of your former self
much weaker, less confident, or less healthy than before
More examplesFewer examples
- 5
No doubt
There wasn't a shadow of doubt in her mind.
- 6
Store security
A security guard shadowed us through the store.
- Patternshadow + person
follow them closely and quietly
- 7
Job training
On my first shift, I shadowed an experienced nurse to learn the job.
- Patternshadow + worker
watch them at work in order to learn
- 8
Strong certainty
She is, beyond a shadow of a doubt, the right person for the role.
- Phrasebeyond a shadow of a doubt
completely certain
See also
Similar
Shades of meaning
- silhouette
- umbra
- gloom
Contrast
Used with (collocations)
- cast a shadow
- in the shadow of
- long shadow
Word family
Explore
Forms and spellings
4 forms open this card.
Main spelling
- shadownounverbadjective
Forms
- shadowspluralnounverbadjective
- shadowedpast tenseverbnounadjective
- shadowing-ing formverbnounadjective