adj · name · noun · verb · 40 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
Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.
Received-Pronunciation:/ˈʃædəʊ̯/
Received-Pronunciation:[ˈʃhædəʊ̯]
Received-Pronunciation:/ˈʃædɵʊ̯/
Received-Pronunciation:[ˈʃhædɵ̞ʊ̯]
/ˈʃædoʊ̯/without t-flapping
[ˈʃhædoʊ̯]without t-flapping
/ˈʃædɔʊ̯/without t-flapping
[ˈʃhædɔʊ̯]without t-flapping
California:Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
/ˈʃæɾoʊ̯/t-flapping
[ˈʃhæɾoʊ̯]t-flapping
/ˈʃæɾɔʊ̯/t-flapping
[ˈʃhæɾɔʊ̯]t-flapping
/ˈʃædəʉ̯/without t-flapping
[ˈʃhædəʉ̯]without t-flapping
/ˈʃædɐʉ̯/without t-flapping
[ˈʃædɐ̝ʉ̯]without t-flapping
QueenslandRecorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
/ˈʃæɾəʉ̯/t-flapping
[ˈʃhæɾəʉ̯]t-flapping
/ˈʃæɾɐʉ̯/t-flapping
[ˈʃæɾɐ̝ʉ̯]t-flapping
/ˈʃɛdɘ̞ʉ̯/without t-flapping
[ˈʃhɛdɘ̞ʉ̯]without t-flapping
/ˈʃɛdɐʉ̯/without t-flapping
[ˈʃhɛdɐ̝ʉ̯]without t-flapping
/ˈʃɛɾɘ̞ʉ̯/without t-flapping
[ˈʃhɛɾɘ̞ʉ̯]without t-flapping
/ˈʃɛɾɐʉ̯/without t-flapping
[ˈʃhɛɾɐ̝ʉ̯]without t-flapping
rhymes with -ædəʊ
CMU ARPABET:SH AE1 D OW2
Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.
1
adj
Meaning 1
Unofficial, informal, unauthorized, but acting as though it were.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Examples
The human resources department has a shadow information technology group without headquarters knowledge.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
2
adj
Meaning 2
Having power or influence, but not widely known or recognized.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Examples
The director has been giving shadow leadership to the other group's project to ensure its success.
The illuminati shadow group has been pulling strings from behind the scenes.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
3
adj
Meaning 3
Part of, or related to, the opposition in government.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: Commonwealth
Topics: government, politics
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
4
adj
Meaning 4
Acting in a leadership role before being formally recognized.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: US
Topics: government, politics
Examples
The shadow cabinet cannot agree on the terms of the agreement due immediately after they are sworn in.
The insurgents’ shadow government is being crippled by the federal military strikes.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
5
name
Meaning 5
A surname.
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 dark image projected onto a surface where light (or other radiation) is blocked by the shade of an object.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: countable, uncountable
Examples
My shadow lengthened as the sun began to set.
The X-ray showed a shadow on his lung.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
7
noun
Meaning 7
Relative darkness, especially as caused by the interruption of light; gloom; obscurity.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: countable, uncountable
Examples
I immediately jumped into shadow as I saw them approach.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
8
noun
Meaning 8
An area protected by an obstacle (likened to an object blocking out sunlight).
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: countable, uncountable
Examples
The mountains block the passage of rain-producing weather systems and cast a "shadow" of dryness behind them.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
9
noun
Meaning 9
A reflected image, as in a mirror or in water.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: countable, obsolete, poetic, uncountable
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
10
noun
Meaning 10
That which looms as though a shadow.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: countable, figuratively, uncountable
Examples
I lived in her shadow my whole life.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
11
noun
Meaning 11
A small degree; a shade.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: countable, uncountable
Examples
He did not give even a shadow of respect to the professor.
I don't have a shadow of doubt in my mind that my plan will succeed.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
12
noun
Meaning 12
An imperfect and faint representation.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: countable, uncountable
Examples
He came back from war the shadow of a man.
The neopagan ritual was only a pale shadow of the ones the Greeks held thousands of years ago.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
13
noun
Meaning 13
A trainee, assigned to work with an experienced officer.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: UK, countable, uncountable
Topics: government, law-enforcement
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
14
noun
Meaning 14
One who secretly or furtively follows another.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: countable, uncountable
Examples
The constable was promoted to working as a shadow for the Royals.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
15
noun
Meaning 15
An inseparable companion.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: countable, uncountable
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
16
noun
Meaning 16
A drop shadow effect applied to lettering in word processors etc.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: countable, uncountable
Topics: media, publishing, typography
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
17
noun
Meaning 17
An influence, especially a pervasive or a negative one.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: countable, uncountable
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
18
noun
Meaning 18
A spirit; a ghost; a shade.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: countable, uncountable
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
19
noun
Meaning 19
An uninvited guest accompanying one who was invited.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: Latinism, countable, obsolete, uncountable
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: umbra
Antonyms: none provided
20
noun
Meaning 20
An unconscious aspect of the personality.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: countable, uncountable
Qualifier: Jungian psychology
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
21
verb
Meaning 21
To shade, cloud, or darken.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: transitive
Examples
The artist chose to shadow this corner of the painting.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
22
verb
Meaning 22
To block light or radio transmission from.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: transitive
Examples
Looks like that cloud's going to shadow us.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
23
verb
Meaning 23
To secretly or discreetly track or follow another, to keep under surveillance.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Qualifier: particularly espionage
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
24
verb
Meaning 24
To represent faintly and imperfectly.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: transitive
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
25
verb
Meaning 25
To hide; to conceal.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: transitive
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
26
verb
Meaning 26
To accompany (a professional) during the working day, so as to learn about an occupation one intends to take up.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: intransitive, transitive
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
27
verb
Meaning 27
To make (an identifier, usually a variable) inaccessible by declaring another of the same name within the scope of the first.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract