sun

1 of 3

noun

ˈsən 

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

5

: glory, splendor

see also:

in the sun under the sun

sun

2 of 3

verb

sunned; sunning

transitive verb

: to expose to or as if to the rays of the sun

intransitive verb

: to sun oneself

Sun

3 of 3

abbreviation

Sunday

Synonyms of sun

Noun

• sunshine
• sunlight

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

Noun

With the addition of new west side stands that sit one step below the sun, Beaver Stadium now holds 109,000 compared to just 67,000 at the Eagles’ Lincoln Financial Field. — Dana O’Neil, CNN Money, 4 Sep. 2026

One probe is examining the software’s role in several Tesla crashes in fog, sun glare and other low-visibility conditions, including one in which a pedestrian was killed. — Bernard Condon, Fortune, 4 Sep. 2026

Verb

In among the glitzy beach club lunches and time spent sunning on their super yacht Seven, Victoria was spotted employing David as her husband-photographer. — Anna Cafolla, Vogue, 16 Aug. 2026

People who live in Florida must also realize that the alligators were here first, and not be so quick to call a trapper when a gator is sunning in a public space. — Letters To The Editor, The Orlando Sentinel, 14 Aug. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English sunne, from Old English; akin to Old High German sunna sun, Latin sol — more at solar

First Known Use

Noun

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Verb

15th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense

Phrases Containing sun

• day/moment/time in the sun
• get/catch some sun
• in the sun
• mean sun
• midnight sun
• place in the sun
• sun-baked
• sun bear
• sun cream
• sun dance
• sun disk
• sun dog
• sun-drenched
• sun-dried
• sun god
• sun goddess
• sun-grebe
• sun hat
• sun-kissed
• sun lounge
• sun lounger
• sun protection factor
• sun worshipper
• the sun is in someone's eyes
• under the sun

Rhymes for sun

• bun
• done
• dun
• fun
• gun
• hun
• jun
• none
• nun
• one
• pun
• run

Kids Definition

sun

1 of 2 noun

ˈsən 

1

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