shading

noun

shad·​ing ˈshā-diŋ 

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

But there have been different shadings in the account presented in her 1999 memoir about the case and in her 2025 deposition testimony in the civil suit. — Joaquin Sapien, ProPublica, 17 July 2026

Eyebrows were lightly brushed up and tapered neatly, while her eyes were free of mascara or shading. — Anna Cafolla, Vogue, 15 July 2026

Low piano notes gather tentatively; sostenuto woodwinds hover just above ground level; a rainstick adds contour and shading. — Dash Lewis, Pitchfork, 13 July 2026

Such strategies include building green roofs and courtyards to help with shading and air circulation, and using dense materials such as concrete or brick that can stabilize indoor temperatures in heat. — Ignacio Calderon, USA Today, 3 July 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1663, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for shading

• aiding
• blading
• braiding
• fading
• grading
• lading
• raiding
• trading
• wading
• abrading
• blockading
• cascading