darn

1 of 5

verb (1)

darned; darning; darns

transitive verb

1
: to mend with interlacing stitches
2
: to embroider by filling in with long running or interlacing stitches
darner noun

darn

2 of 5

noun (1)

: a place that has been darned
a sweater full of darns

darn

3 of 5

adjective or adverb

variants or less commonly durn
: damned

darn

4 of 5

verb (2)

variants or less commonly durn
darned also durned
: damn
darned adjective or adverb
or less commonly durned

darn

5 of 5

noun (2)

variants or less commonly durn
: damn

Examples of darn in a Sentence

Verb (1) in the old days, holes in socks had to be darned by hand Adjective or adverb I can't seem to tie this darn shoe Noun (2) nobody gave a darn about us when we were poor, but now that we are rich, we have friends we never knew about!
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Verb
Shops will be open, luminarias will be lit, and as twilight envelops the town, everyone gathers in Upper Park (above the steps on Main Street) for the lighting of the Christmas tree and pretty much the whole darned park. Roger Naylor, The Arizona Republic, 15 Nov. 2024 By now, there’s little to no reason to not think of this squad as the WNBA’s best, name recognition be darned. Jace Frederick, Twin Cities, 12 Oct. 2024
Adjective or adverb
But that’s okay because a Hield shooting regression is still pretty darn elite when compared to the rest of the league. Mat Issa, Forbes, 6 Nov. 2024 Unlike the second-gen Pencil, which offers automatic pairing, wireless charging, touch controls to switch between modes, and a way to store the darn thing, the first-gen version is frustrating to use. Brenda Stolyar, WIRED, 29 Sep. 2021 See all Example Sentences for darn 

Word History

Etymology

Verb (1)

perhaps from French dialect darner

Adjective or adverb

euphemism

First Known Use

Verb (1)

circa 1600, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Noun (1)

1720, in the meaning defined above

Adjective Or Adverb

1781, in the meaning defined above

Verb (2)

1781, in the meaning defined above

Noun (2)

1840, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of darn was circa 1600

Dictionary Entries Near darn

Cite this Entry

“Darn.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/darn. Accessed 30 Nov. 2024.

Kids Definition

darn

1 of 4 verb
: to mend with interlacing stitches
darn socks

darn

2 of 4 noun
: a place that has been darned

darn

3 of 4 verb
darn
ˈdärn
adjective or adverb
or darned
ˈdärn(d)

darn

4 of 4 noun
: damn entry 2 sense 2
not worth a darn

More from Merriam-Webster on darn

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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