sheen

play

adjective \ˈshēn\

Definition of sheen

1 archaic : beautiful
2 archaic : shining, resplendent

Origin and Etymology of sheen

Middle English shene, from Old English scīene; akin to Old English scēawian to look — more at show

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First Known Use: before 12th century

See Words from the same year

sheen

verb

Definition of sheen

intransitive verb
: to be bright : show a sheen

First Known Use of sheen

14th century

sheen

noun

Definition of sheen

1a : a bright or shining condition : brightnessb : a subdued glitter approaching but short of optical reflectionc : a lustrous surface imparted to textiles through finishing processes or use of shiny yarns
2 : a textile exhibiting notable sheen

sheeny

play \ˈshē-nē\ adjective

See sheen defined for English-language learners

See sheen defined for kids

Examples of sheen in a Sentence

Her hair has a sheen to it.
polished the metal until it had an even sheen

Recent Examples of sheen from the Web

In an emergency order Monday, the Alaska Department of Fish and Game warned fishermen to be alert to any fuel sheens in the areas surrounding the sunken vessels.

— suzanna caldwell, Alaska Dispatch News, "At least 4 loaded Bristol Bay fishing boats swamped in bad weather", 4 July 2017
Avoid fish that appears slimy or has a sheen that may indicate age or the use of preservatives.

— debbie moose, sacbee, "Learn how to make a popular Hawaiian specialty at home", 27 June 2017
The task of giving an intellectual sheen to this facially absurd message has fallen upon Republican health-care adviser Avik Roy, who has sold the Senate bill in an enthusiastic media blitz.

— jonathan chait, Daily Intelligencer, "The Defenses of the Senate Health-Care Plan Are Pathetically Dishonest", 26 June 2017
My skin was left with a slight sheen and mild tackiness — not ideal for daily wear, but totally doable for a day at the beach.

— jessica prince erlich, The Cut, "9 Spray-On Sunscreens That Make Avoiding Sun Damage Easy", 23 June 2017
Avoid fish that appears slimy or has a sheen that may indicate age or the use of preservatives.

— debbie moose, Philly.com, "Make your own poke bowl", 22 June 2017
Director Steve Tomkins doesn’t minimize the platitudes, but this Village offering is dynamic, solidly performed and polished to a high sheen.

— misha berson, The Seattle Times, "Review: At Village Theatre, these ‘Dreamgirls’ reign supreme", 26 May 2017
After its economic boom in the 19th century, Manchester gradually lost its sheen, becoming a gritty post-industrial city in the late 20th century.

— Washington Post, "Melting pot Manchester stresses unity after concert attack", 25 May 2017
Good Time looks terrific, bringing a scrappy sheen to the Safdies' native borough.

— david rooney, The Hollywood Reporter, "'Good Time': Film Review | Cannes 2017", 25 May 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'sheen'. Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.