darn

UK: /ˈdɑː^rn/ US: /dɑrn/ ,(därn)

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025

darn¹ /dɑrn/   v. [ ~ + obj]

1. Clothing to sew and mend with rows of stitches, sometimes by crossing and weaving rows in and out.

n. [countable]

2. a place or area that has been darned.

darn•er, n. [countable]

darn² /dɑrn/  adj. 

1. Informal Terms Also, darned. damned[before a noun]:
   It's a darn shame.

adv. 

2. damned:
   You're darn right I'm angry.

v. [ ~ + obj]

3. Informal Terms to curse;
   damn:
   Darn that pesky fly!

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

darn¹  (därn), v.t. 

1. to mend, as torn clothing, with rows of stitches, sometimes by crossing and interweaving rows to span a gap.

n. 

2. a darned place, as in a garment:
   an old sock full of darns.

• perh. to be identified with Middle English dernen to keep secret, conceal, Old English (Anglian) dernan 1590–1600

Synonyms

• 1. See mend. 

darn²  (därn), [Informal.]
adj., adv. 

1. Informal Terms darned.

v.t. 

2. Informal Terms to curse;
   damn:
   Darn that pesky fly!

n. 

3. Informal Terms give a darn. See damn (def. 11).

• see darned 1775–85

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

darn / dɑːn/ verb

1. to mend (a hole or a garment) with a series of crossing or interwoven stitches

noun

1. a patch of darned work on a garment

Etymology: 16th Century: probably from French (Channel Islands dialect) darner; compare Welsh, Breton darn piece

ˈdarner noun

ˈdarning noun

darn / dɑːn/ interjection , adjective , adverb , noun

1. a euphemistic word for damn1, , , ,