sheen

adjective

\ ˈshēn

Definition of sheen

(Entry 1 of 3)

1 archaic : beautiful

2 archaic : shining, resplendent

sheen

verb

sheened; sheening; sheens

Definition of sheen (Entry 2 of 3)

intransitive verb

: to be bright : show a sheen

sheen

noun

Definition of sheen (Entry 3 of 3)

1a : a bright or shining condition : brightness

b : a subdued glitter approaching but short of optical reflection

c : a lustrous surface imparted to textiles through finishing processes or use of shiny yarns

2 : a textile exhibiting notable sheen

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Examples of sheen in a Sentence

Noun

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

Recent Examples on the Web: Noun

Indeed, a single paint color can look completely different based on the finish, from matte to glossy and every sheen in between. — Hadley Mendelsohn, House Beautiful, "A Paint Expert's Simple Guide to Choosing the Right Paint Finish," 4 Mar. 2019 These two sheens are easier to clean than flat paint, and less reflective than high gloss. — Joseph Truini, Popular Mechanics, "How to Build Your Own Bed Frame," 21 Feb. 2019 The reaction in Canada, where Mr. Trudeau’s sheen has worn off in recent months after a series of gaffes and a conflict-of-interest scandal, was swift and merciless. — Dan Bilefsky, New York Times, "Can a Canadian Carry Off Bollywood Style? Justin Trudeau Finds Out.," 23 Feb. 2018 The finish is matte but non-drying, with a slight sheen that still makes lips appear plump and full. — Jenna Rosenstein, Harper's BAZAAR, "Ruth Bader Ginsburg Inspired a Red Lipstick, and it Benefits the ACLU," 10 Dec. 2018 In addition, there are luxury fabrics such as silk, which is extra-fine with a brilliant sheen; satin, which is has a lustrous surface; and linen, which is very soft but has a more visible structure. — Hannah Morrill, ELLE Decor, "The Best Luxury Sheets For the Perfect Night's Sleep," 15 Nov. 2018 In certain circles, today’s San Francisco gets a bad rep, shunned for becoming a playground for tech company employees and relinquishing quirk in favor of sheen. — Asad Syrkett, Curbed, "Year in Curbed: The best of House Calls," 26 Dec. 2018 This normalizing sheen may partly be the reason some orthorexia is not taken seriously. — Jancee Dunn, Vogue, "Is Othorexia the Eating Disorder for the Digital Age?," 14 Dec. 2018 The metallic powder acts as a highlighter on the lip, adding a bit of sheen and sparkle. — Lauren Rearick, Teen Vogue, "Fenty Beauty Shared a Tutorial for Creating Two Different Holiday Beauty Looks," 20 Nov. 2018

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.