sunshine

1 of 2

noun

sun·​shine ˈsən-ˌshīn How to pronounce sunshine (audio)
1
a
: the sun's light or direct rays
b
: the warmth and light given by the sun's rays
c
: a spot or surface on which the sun's light shines
2
: someone or something (such as a person, condition, or influence) that radiates warmth, cheer, or happiness
3
sunshiny adjective

sunshine

2 of 2

adjective

: forbidding or restricting closed meetings of legislative or executive bodies and sometimes providing for public access to records
sunshine laws

Examples of sunshine in a Sentence

Noun Today's forecast calls for sunshine. Let's go out and enjoy the sunshine! She was the kind of person who brought sunshine into people's lives.
Recent Examples on the Web
Noun
Confidence: Medium-High A look ahead Turning warmer Tuesday with highs in the mid- to upper 60s and plenty of sunshine. Molly Robey, Washington Post, 10 Mar. 2024 Even though some Florida officials want spring breakers to stay away, the school vacations and fatigue of gloomy weather will likely still send people seeking sunshine on the beaches . Kinsey Crowley, USA TODAY, 7 Mar. 2024 The previous days of heavy snow and wind gave way to one brilliant day of powder and abundant sunshine on Hovgaard Island. Melissa McGibbon, Travel + Leisure, 5 Mar. 2024 Throughout the day, if there’s sunshine in the area, that could also help foster the elements for the storm. David Clarey, Journal Sentinel, 4 Mar. 2024 To compensate, Nelson gets lots of sunshine as well. Per and Britt Karlsson, Forbes, 2 Mar. 2024 Fill your kitchen with sunshine with Citron Dutch ovens, baking dishes, and more, starting at $60. Lauren Taylor, Southern Living, 2 Mar. 2024 The surprise here is less that an album about emerging, stronger, from sorrow’s all-encompassing shroud somehow goes down like a goblet of spiked sunshine. Raymond Cummings, SPIN, 27 Feb. 2024 Plenty of sunshine with unseasonably warm temperatures on the horizon. Chris Sims, The Indianapolis Star, 26 Feb. 2024
Adjective
Runoff from Wednesday in low-lying parts of the Mission, Noe Valley and pockets of the west side will linger through Thursday afternoon, gradually dropping off as skies clear and sunshine returns. Gerry Díaz, San Francisco Chronicle, 5 Jan. 2023 Is sunshine protective against melanoma of the vulva? Ncbi Rofl, Discover Magazine, 15 May 2012 The sky will clear overnight then high pressure will bring sunshine Wednesday and Thursday with high temperatures near 70 Wednesday and in the 60s on Thursday. Hartford Courant, 1 Nov. 2022 Opening day will come again, maybe the next one will be sunshine. John Schandelmeier, Anchorage Daily News, 4 Sep. 2022 Hailey knows she's got style — from her sunshine bikinis to white mini skirts and motorcycle jackets, the Rhode founder offers no shortage of fashion inspo. Seventeen, 15 Aug. 2022 Sydney Sweeney, Lucy Hale, and Jessica Alba have all been spotted wearing the classic black and white Chuck Taylors this year, and supermodel Gigi Hadid wore a sunshine yellow pair during Milan Fashion Week. Alex Warner, PEOPLE.com, 12 July 2022 This weekend will be the most comfortable with the relatively rare July combination of sunshine warm temperatures and low humidity. Dave Epstein, BostonGlobe.com, 8 July 2022 About 80 degrees if clouds dominate, but above 90 is possible if sunshine dominates and rain chances evaporate. A. Camden Walker, Washington Post, 10 June 2022

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'sunshine.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Adjective

1972, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of sunshine was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near sunshine

Cite this Entry

“Sunshine.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sunshine. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

sunshine

noun
sun·​shine
-ˌshīn
1
a
: the sun's light or direct rays
b
: the warmth and light given by the sun's rays
2
: one (as a person or a condition) that spreads warmth, cheer, or happiness
sunshiny
-ˌshī-nē
adjective

Legal Definition

sunshine

adjective
sun·​shine
: forbidding or restricting closed meetings of legislative or executive bodies and sometimes providing for public access to government records
sunshine laws
see also Freedom of Information Act

More from Merriam-Webster on sunshine

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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