1
as in shadows
a time or place of little or no light
strange noises were coming from the wooded umbra beyond our campfire
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2
as in shadow
partial darkness due to the obstruction of light rays
during a solar eclipse observers located within the umbra experience a complete blocking of the sun by the moon
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Recent Examples of umbra
The entire event of the Earth passing in front of the moon—with the moon entering the Earth's umbra (the central, darkest part of the shadow) and penumbra (the lighter outer shadow)—can last up to 3–4 hours.
—
Jess Thomson, Newsweek, 15 Jan. 2025
For a whopping 65 minutes, the full moon will pass through Earth’s inner shadow — its umbra — and turn a weird-looking reddish color.
—Jamie Carter, Forbes, 1 Jan. 2025
This will be difficult to see, but the show will really begin at 01:09 A.M. on March 14, when the moon will enter the umbra, the darker shadow, and look like it is slowly being eaten.
—Phil Plait, Scientific American, 9 Jan. 2025
When the moon moves into the inner part of Earth's shadow, or umbra, according to NASA, some of the sunlight entering Earth's skies scatters before reaching the moon's surface.
—Jenna Prestininzi, Detroit Free Press, 27 Dec. 2024
See All Example Sentences for umbra
Jess Thomson, Newsweek, 15 Jan. 2025
For a whopping 65 minutes, the full moon will pass through Earth’s inner shadow — its umbra — and turn a weird-looking reddish color.
—Jamie Carter, Forbes, 1 Jan. 2025
This will be difficult to see, but the show will really begin at 01:09 A.M. on March 14, when the moon will enter the umbra, the darker shadow, and look like it is slowly being eaten.
—Phil Plait, Scientific American, 9 Jan. 2025
When the moon moves into the inner part of Earth's shadow, or umbra, according to NASA, some of the sunlight entering Earth's skies scatters before reaching the moon's surface.
—Jenna Prestininzi, Detroit Free Press, 27 Dec. 2024
See All Example Sentences for umbra
Recent Examples of Synonyms for umbra
Noun
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But against a Borussia Dortmund team that is a shadow of the side that made last season’s final, this is arguably their best opportunity.—
Anantaajith Raghuraman,
The Athletic,
11 Mar. 2025
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Remarkably, the eclipses are 521 years apart, which means the moon takes an almost identical path through Earth's shadow and occurs against the same background stars.—
Jamie Carter,
Space.com,
10 Mar. 2025
Noun
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See if the Ohio History Center comes alive after dark at Night at the Museum.—
Andrew King,
Axios,
27 Feb. 2025
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Florida Man also doesn’t do dark and overly morbid things.—
Howard Cohen,
Miami Herald,
24 Jan. 2025
Noun
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Stockman Products The biggest generational changes come out back in the galley, which still relies on the full-height hatch to provide plenty of shade and weather coverage overhead.—
New Atlas,
New Atlas,
26 Feb. 2025
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Botanical Name: Iris reticulata Sun Exposure: Full sun, partial shade Soil Type: Nutrient-rich, well-draining Soil pH: Neutral (6.5-7.5) 07 of 11 Giant Snowdrop A bulbous perennial in the amaryllis family, Giant Snowdrops produce large, solitary white flowers.—
Mary Marlowe Leverette,
Southern Living,
26 Feb. 2025
Noun
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This means that during daylight saving time, many young people get up and travel to school in pitch darkness.—
Beth Ann Malow,
CBS News,
8 Mar. 2025
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The field is increasingly engulfed in darkness, and—with the score tied—the players must choose between the reckless absurdity of playing a night game without lights and the eternal purgatory of leaving the final contest unresolved.—
Richard Brody,
The New Yorker,
7 Mar. 2025
Noun
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Jupiter can be seen at dusk, high overhead in the south, according to NASA.—
Terry Dickerson,
NBC News,
27 Feb. 2025
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The easiest way to see the planetary lineup is to head outside at dusk and find Venus, the brightest and most conspicuous of the planets, shining in the west-southwest sky.—
Daisy Dobrijevic,
Space.com,
26 Feb. 2025
Noun
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Flaunt this fun, floral style, or opt for their best-selling classic black.—
Meg Donohue,
Town & Country,
31 Jan. 2023
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Take your pick from black to mocha to crisp, winter white.—
Taylor Jean Stephan,
Peoplemag,
31 Jan. 2023
Noun
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Passengers experience a few minutes of weightlessness during this stretch and get to see Earth against the blackness of space.—
Mike Wall,
Space.com,
25 Feb. 2025
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Vega, one of the brightest stars in the night sky, shone above the horizon, brilliant against the blackness.—
Nicholas J. R. White Kat Hill,
New York Times,
24 Feb. 2025
Noun
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As twilight fades in the western sky, look for the brilliant planet Venus shining at magnitude -4.8 near a delicate waxing crescent moon.—
Jamie Carter,
Forbes,
1 Mar. 2025
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When evening twilight ends at 6:58 p.m. ET Friday, the Cheshire moon will appear, according to the space agency.—
Ashley Strickland,
CNN,
27 Feb. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Umbra.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/umbra. Accessed 13 Mar. 2025.
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