shadow
word
Definition
A shadow is the dark shape made when light is blocked by a person or object. It can also mean a weaker or hidden presence that follows or is connected to someone or something.
Usage & Nuances
Most commonly it means the dark shape made by blocked light. Common collocations include 'cast a shadow', 'in the shadows', and 'a shadow of doubt'. It can be literal or figurative. Don't confuse it with 'shade', which usually means protection from sunlight or a slightly darker color.
Example Sentences
The tree made a long shadow on the road.
basic
I saw my shadow on the wall.
basic
The cat slept in the shadow of the chair.
basic
Even after the scandal, its shadow stayed over the company.
natural
He has lived in his brother's shadow for years.
natural
There's still a shadow of doubt in my mind.
natural