shadow: meaning and words from its letters
6 letters · 13 letter points · starts with S · ends with W
Meaning of shadow
noun
- countable, uncountable
A dark image projected onto a surface where light (or other radiation) is blocked by the shade of an object.
Example: My shadow lengthened as the sun began to set.
- countable, uncountable
Relative darkness, especially as caused by the interruption of light; gloom; obscurity.
Example: I immediately jumped into shadow as I saw them approach.
- countable, uncountable
An area protected by an obstacle (likened to an object blocking out sunlight).
Example: The mountains block the passage of rain-producing weather systems and cast a "shadow" of dryness behind them.
- countable, figuratively, uncountable
That which looms as though a shadow.
Example: I lived in her shadow my whole life.
Listed forms: shadows.
Source: Wiktionary — shadow.
adj
Unofficial, informal, unauthorized, but acting as though it were.
Example: The human resources department has a shadow information technology group without headquarters knowledge.
Having power or influence, but not widely known or recognized.
- Commonwealth
Part of, or related to, the opposition in government.
- US
Acting in a leadership role before being formally recognized.
Source: Wiktionary — shadow.
verb
- transitive
To shade, cloud, or darken.
Example: The artist chose to shadow this corner of the painting.
- transitive
To block light or radio transmission from.
Example: Looks like that cloud's going to shadow us.
To secretly or discreetly track or follow another, to keep under surveillance.
- transitive
To represent faintly and imperfectly.
Listed forms: shadows, shadowing, shadowed.
Source: Wiktionary — shadow.
Adapted from Wiktionary contributors via Kaikki.org. Selected senses and forms; quotations omitted. Definition text is CC BY-SA 4.0.
Synonyms by meaning
Words are grouped by sense, so they are not necessarily interchangeable in every context. Search synonyms for shadow.
noun
an unilluminated area
noun
something existing in perception only
- apparition
- phantom
- phantasm
- phantasma
- fantasm
noun
an indication that something has been present
noun
a spy employed to follow someone and report their movements
Open English WordNet Team, 2025, derived from Princeton University WordNet; selected synonym groups under CC BY 4.0. Source · OEWN notice · Princeton notice.
Is shadow in our word lists?
| Word list | Status |
|---|---|
| American English | Found |
| British English | Found |
| Extended English | Found |
These are spelling-list matches, not official game validity checks. Check the rules and dictionary used by your game.
Letter-value score of shadow
S(1) + H(4) + A(1) + D(2) + O(1) + W(4) = 13 points.
This is a sum of letter values without board bonuses or word multipliers. A blank tile is worth zero: subtract the value of each letter supplied by a blank. The score does not establish game validity. Full letter-value table.
Anagrams of shadow
0 other standard-list words use exactly these letters, including repeated letters.
No other single-word anagram was found in our standard list.
Shorter words from shadow
57 shorter standard-list words can be made using no letter more often than it occurs in shadow. Showing up to 24, longest first.