shading

noun

shad·​ing ˈshā-diŋ How to pronounce shading (audio)
1
: the use of marking made within outlines to suggest three-dimensionality, shadow, or degrees of light and dark in a picture or drawing
2
: an interpretative effect in music gained especially by subtle changes in dynamics

Examples of shading in a Sentence

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.
Original price: $35.99 This straw hat provides UPF 80 sun protection with a wide-brim for full-face shading. Caitlyn Martyn May Earn A Commission If You Buy Through Our Referral Links. This Content Was Created By A Team That Works Independently From The Fox Newsroom., FOXNews.com, 8 July 2025 Areas under a red shading have a higher chance to see northern lights, while areas under a green shading have a lower chance. Julia Gomez, USA Today, 25 June 2025 Both earnest viewers and splatter-drunk genre fiends can get excited by the deaths of characters who’ve been given some shading. Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 16 May 2025 Grooming a wool rug by laying the fibers in one direction prevents shading, which is the appearance of light and dark areas throughout the rug fibers. Tessa Cooper, Southern Living, 21 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for shading

Word History

First Known Use

1663, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of shading was in 1663

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Cite this Entry

“Shading.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/shading. Accessed 17 Jul. 2025.

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