1
a
often Sun
: the luminous celestial body around which the earth and other planets revolve, from which they receive heat and light, which is composed mainly of hydrogen and helium, and which has a mean distance from earth of about 93,000,000 miles (150,000,000 kilometers), a linear diameter of 864,000 miles (1,390,000 kilometers), and a mass 332,000 times greater than earth
b
: a celestial body like the sun : star
2
: the heat or light radiated from the sun
played in the sun all day
3
: one resembling the sun (as in warmth or brilliance)
4
: the rising or setting of the sun
from sun to sun
see also:
sunned; sunning
: to expose to or as if to the rays of the sun
: to sun oneself
Sunday
Examples of sun in a Sentence
Noun
The rain has stopped and the sun is shining.
The sun rises in the east and sets in the west.
the warmth of the sun's rays
They dream of traveling to distant suns.
Try to keep out of the sun.
The cat lay basking in the sun.
Verb
People sunned themselves on the hillside.
Recent Examples on the Web
Henry Bushnell, New York Times, 16 June 2026
Many fans have worn the pre-revolutionary flag of the sun and lion that FIFA had banned inside stadiums.
—Andrew Greif, NBC news, 16 June 2026
Midwest Living, 12 June 2026
Otters, alligators, and other wildlife can be spotted sunning themselves in the wetlands, so keep a lookout and have your camera close at hand.
—Alexandra Emanuelli, Southern Living, 12 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for sun
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Noun
Those supporters were left unchallenged by stewards, despite FIFA winning a court hearing enabling them to lawfully prohibit people showing the lion-and-sun flags on the grounds of them carrying a political message and potentially causing disturbances.
—Henry Bushnell, New York Times, 16 June 2026
Many fans have worn the pre-revolutionary flag of the sun and lion that FIFA had banned inside stadiums.
—Andrew Greif, NBC news, 16 June 2026
Verb
Nature Walk Along the Cal-Sag Channel south of Chicago, follow a short unpaved trail around Lake Katherine Nature Center and Botanic Gardens in Palos Heights to spot water lilies and rows of turtles sunning themselves on logs.
—Midwest Living, 12 June 2026
Otters, alligators, and other wildlife can be spotted sunning themselves in the wetlands, so keep a lookout and have your camera close at hand.
—Alexandra Emanuelli, Southern Living, 12 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for sun
Cite this Entry
“Sun.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sun. Accessed 17 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
sun
1 of 2 noun1
a
: the star around which the planets revolve, from which they receive heat and light, and which has an average distance from the earth of about 93,000,000 miles (150,000,000 kilometers), a diameter of 864,000 miles (1,390,000 kilometers), and a mass 332,000 times greater than earth
b
: a star like the sun
2
: the heat or light given off by the sun : sunshine
3
: one resembling the sun usually in brilliance
4
: the rising or setting of the sun
from sun to sun
sun
2 of 2 verb
sunned; sunning
1
: to expose to or as if to the rays of the sun
2
: to sun oneself
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