Definition

1. Noun:

   • A dark area or shape produced by a body coming between rays of light and a surface: The fundamental physical phenomenon where light is blocked.
   • An inseparable companion; a person who follows another closely: A person who constantly accompanies another.
   • A dominating and pervasive presence or influence: Something that overshadows or diminishes the recognition of another.
   • Refuge or shelter: A place of protection or concealment.
   • A very small amount; a trace: A slight indication or remnant of something.
   • A feeling of gloom, sadness, or threat: A premonition or sense of impending trouble.
   • An illusion or insubstantial thing: Something perceived but not real or tangible.
   • An area of darkness: A specific unlit area.

2. Verb:

   • To cast a shadow over; to darken or obscure: To make an area dark or to figuratively cast gloom.
   • To follow and observe (someone) closely and secretly: To trail someone, especially for surveillance.
   • To represent faintly or prophetically: To foreshadow or hint at something to come.

Examples of Usage

• Noun:

  • The tree cast a long shadow on the grass in the evening sun.
  • Ever since the incident, the detective has been my shadow, never leaving my side.
  • He worked for years in the shadow of his famous mentor.
  • The old barn provided shadow from the midday heat.
  • There wasn't a shadow of doubt in her mind about his innocence.
  • The scandal cast a shadow over the entire election campaign.
  • Chasing after that dream is like chasing a shadow.
  • The shadows in the corner of the room made her nervous.

• Verb:

  • The tall buildings shadow the narrow streets below.
  • The agent was assigned to shadow the diplomat for a week.
  • The early poems shadow forth the themes of his later masterpieces.

Advanced Usage

• "To be afraid of one's own shadow": To be extremely timid or fearful.
  • Since the break-in, she's been afraid of her own shadow.
• "To be a shadow of one's former self": To be much less healthy, strong, or capable than before.
  • After his long illness, he was just a shadow of his former self.
• "Five o'clock shadow": The slight beard growth visible on a man's face later in the day.
  • He needed a shave to get rid of his five o'clock shadow.

Variants and Related Words

• Shadowy (adj): Full of shadows; dim; vague or insubstantial.
  • A shadowy figure appeared in the doorway.
• Shadowing (n): The act of following someone secretly.
  • The suspect was under constant shadowing.
• Foreshadow (v): To be a warning or indication of a future event.
  • The dark clouds foreshadowed the coming storm.

Synonyms

• Noun: Shade, silhouette, trace, hint, specter, follower, tail.
• Verb: Darken, overshadow, trail, follow, tail, dog.

Related Phrasal Verbs

• Shadow forth (literary): To represent faintly; to foreshadow.
  • The artist's sketches shadow forth the final sculpture's grandeur.

Related Idioms

• Beyond a shadow of a doubt: With absolute certainty.
  • The evidence proved his guilt beyond a shadow of a doubt.
• Live in the shadow of: To live while being dominated or overlooked because of someone else's fame or success.
  • The younger sister always lived in the shadow of her athletic sibling.

Noun

1. an inseparable companion
   • the poor child was his mother's shadow
2. a spy employed to follow someone and report their movements
3. a dominating and pervasive presence
   • he received little recognition working in the shadow of his father
4. refuge from danger or observation
   • he felt secure in his father's shadow
5. an indication that something has been present
   • there wasn't a trace of evidence for the claim
   • a tincture of condescension
6. a premonition of something adverse
   • a shadow over his happiness
7. something existing in perception only
   • a ghostly apparition at midnight
8. an unilluminated area
   • he moved off into the darkness
9. shade within clear boundaries

Verb

1. make appear small by comparison
   • This year's debt dwarfs that of last year
2. cast a shadow over
3. follow, usually without the person's knowledge
   • The police are shadowing her