shadow

/ˈʃædoʊ/
noun
  1. A dark area or shape produced by a body coming between rays of light and a surface.
    • She saw her own shadow on the wall when she walked past the lamp.
    • The cat chased its own shadow on the sunny floor.
    • The tree cast a long shadow across the lawn in the late afternoon.
  2. A person who follows or accompanies another closely, especially in secret or to learn from them.
    • The detective kept a shadow on the suspect all day.
    • He lived in the shadow of his famous older brother.
    • The new employee was assigned a shadow to help her learn the job.
  3. A small amount or trace of something.
    • There was not a shadow of doubt in her mind that she had made the right choice.
    • He felt a shadow of sadness as he said goodbye.
    • The test results showed a shadow of improvement.
Antonyms
verb
  1. To follow and watch someone closely, often secretly.
    • The police officer shadowed the suspect through the crowded market.
    • A journalist shadowed the politician for a week to write a profile.
    • The intern shadowed the chef to learn how to prepare the signature dish.
  2. To cover something with a shadow; to darken.
    • The eclipse shadowed the entire town for a few minutes.
    • Her hat shadowed her face, making it hard to see her expression.
    • Tall buildings shadowed the narrow street, keeping it cool.
Synonyms
Antonyms
adjective
  1. Relating to or resembling a shadow; not official or main, but closely associated.
    • He was the shadow director of the company, advising without holding an official title.
    • The shadow cabinet meets weekly to discuss government policies.
    • She served as the shadow minister for education in the opposition party.