Meaning & use
shadow
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Meanings
nouncountable
The dark shape on a surface made when something blocks light.
Grammar: Countable for a shape; uncountable for darkness: sit in shadow.
Patterns
- cast a shadow
- in the shadow of something
The tree cast a long shadow across the lawn.
The child chased her own shadow around the yard.
We sat in the shadow of the wall to escape the sun.
nounusually plural
A shady, darker area where light does not reach.
Grammar: Often shadows: hide in the shadows.
Patterns
- in the shadows
Someone was standing in the shadows near the door.
The cat disappeared into the shadows.
Shadows filled the corners of the old attic.
nounsingularfigurative
A feeling of worry or sadness that hangs over a situation.
Grammar: Followed by of or over: a shadow of doubt.
Patterns
- a shadow of something
- a shadow over something
The news cast a shadow over the celebration.
There was not a shadow of doubt in her mind.
A shadow crossed his face when he heard the name.
nounsingularfigurative
A person who follows someone closely or a weaker version of what something once was.
Grammar: Often a shadow of its former self.
Patterns
- a shadow of its former self
After the illness, he was a shadow of his former self.
The puppy was her shadow, following her everywhere.
The company is now a shadow of what it once was.
verbtransitive
To follow someone closely, often secretly, or to watch a worker to learn their job.
Grammar: Takes an object: shadow a colleague.
Patterns
- shadow someone
A detective shadowed the suspect through the market.
Interns will shadow nurses for a week.
She shadowed the manager to learn how the shop ran.
Word forms
| plural | shadows |
|---|---|
| third person singular | shadows |
| past tense | shadowed |
| past participle | shadowed |
| -ing form | shadowing |
Common combinations
- cast a shadow
- The tower casts a shadow over the square.
- long shadow
- The evening sun made long shadows.
- beyond a shadow of a doubt
- She is guilty beyond a shadow of a doubt.
- in the shadow of
- He grew up in the shadow of his famous brother.
- job shadow
- Students job shadow professionals for a day.
- shadow cabinet
- The opposition named its shadow cabinet.
Synonyms and how they differ
- silhouette
- A silhouette is an outline of a figure against a bright background, while shadow is cast on a surface.
- shade
- Shade is a general area out of the sun, while a shadow has a particular shape.
- tail
- Tail, as a verb, is an informal word for following someone secretly.
- follow
- Follow is neutral and need not be secret, whereas shadow suggests staying close.
Opposites
Word family
- shadowy adjective
- dark or mysterious
- shadowless adjective
- without shadows
- overshadow verb
- to make something seem less important
- shadowing noun
- following or observing someone
Commonly confused: shadow or shade?
shadow vs shade
Shade is cool, dark space out of direct sun; a shadow is the dark shape of an object on a surface.
Practice
Which sentence uses shadow as a verb?
Choose one answer.
Only the second sentence uses shadow as a verb meaning to follow and observe. The others use it as a noun.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “shadow”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.