Standard Lemma guide

dusky

adj · noun · 9 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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  • /ˈdʌs.ki/
  • US: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
  • rhymes with -ʌski

1

adj

Meaning 1

Dimly lit, as at dusk (evening).

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Examples

  • I like it when it is dusky, just before the street lights come on.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

adj

Meaning 2

Having a shade of color that is rather dark.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Examples

  • The dusky rose was of a muted color, not clashing with any of the other colors.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

3

adj

Meaning 3

Dark-skinned.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: dated, literary

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

4

adj

Meaning 4

Ashen; having a greyish skin coloration.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Examples

  • The patient was in shock and had a dusky skin tone.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

5

noun

Meaning 5

A dusky shark.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

6

noun

Meaning 6

A dusky dolphin.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

7

noun

Meaning 7

A dusky grouse.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

8

adjective satellite

Meaning 8

naturally having skin of a dark color

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • a dark-skinned beauty
  • gold earrings gleamed against her dusky cheeks
  • a smile on his swarthy face
  • `swart' is archaic

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: dark-skinned, swart, swarthy

Antonyms: none provided

9

adjective satellite

Meaning 9

lighted by or as if by twilight-Henry Fielding

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • The dusky night rides down the sky/And ushers in the morn
  • the twilight glow of the sky
  • a boat on a twilit river

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: twilight(a), twilit

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

Etymology tree English dusk Proto-Indo-European *-kos Proto-Germanic *-gaz Proto-West Germanic *-g Old English -iġ Middle English -y English -y English dusky From dusk + -y.

Across languages

Translations

16 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Bulgarian: сумрачен (sumračen) — dimly lit, as at dusk evening
  • Czech: temný — dimly lit, as at dusk evening
  • Czech: setmělý — dimly lit, as at dusk evening
  • Czech: zšeřelý — dimly lit, as at dusk evening
  • Finnish: hämärä — dimly lit, as at dusk evening
  • Ancient Greek: ὀρφναῖος (orphnaîos) — dimly lit, as at dusk evening
  • Latin: creper — dimly lit, as at dusk evening
  • Latvian: krēslains — dimly lit, as at dusk evening
  • Māori: kaurukiruki — dimly lit, as at dusk evening
  • Māori: tariko — dimly lit, as at dusk evening
  • Māori: nehunehu — dimly lit, as at dusk evening
  • Persian: گردناک (gardnâk) — dimly lit, as at dusk evening
  • Persian: سیاهگون (siyâhgun) — dimly lit, as at dusk evening
  • Romanian: întunecos — dimly lit, as at dusk evening
  • Romanian: întunecat — dimly lit, as at dusk evening
  • Russian: су́меречный (súmerečnyj) — dimly lit, as at dusk evening
Real reading context

dusky in complete knowledge articles