shine

1 of 2

verb

shone ˈshōn How to pronounce shine (audio)
especially Canadian and British
ˈshän How to pronounce shine (audio)
or shined; shining

intransitive verb

1
: to emit rays of light
2
: to be bright by reflection of light
3
a
: to be eminent, conspicuous, or distinguished
shines in math
b
: to perform extremely well
when will stocks really shine again?Temma Ehrenfeld
4
: to have a bright glowing appearance
his face shone with enthusiasm
5
: to be conspicuously evident or clear

transitive verb

1
a
: to cause to emit light
b
: to throw or direct the light of
2
past tense and past participle shined : to make bright by polishing
shined his shoes

shine

2 of 2

noun

1
: brightness caused by the emission of light
2
: brightness caused by the reflection of light : luster
the shine of polished silver
3
: brilliance, splendor
still has a shine about her
4
: fair weather : sunshine
rain or shine
5
: trick, caper
usually used in plural
6
: liking, fancy
took a shine to him
7
a
: a polish or gloss given to shoes
b
: a single polishing of a pair of shoes

Examples of shine in a Sentence

Verb The sun was shining through the clouds. lamps shining from the windows She found a sport where she can really shine. Noun the shine of polished silver He had a nice shine on his shoes. Would you like a shine?
Recent Examples on the Web
Verb
Where this set really shines is the storage options. Samantha McIntyre, Parents, 9 Mar. 2024 Reality Check is a Star series holding those in power to account and shining a light on their decisions. Bill Lukitsch, Kansas City Star, 8 Mar. 2024 From reproductive rights to immigration to Russia and Israel, the guests shine a spotlight on issues that the leaders have sought to highlight as November's election approaches. Kaia Hubbard, CBS News, 7 Mar. 2024 Magnesium’s time to shine The once humble and almost anonymous mineral supplement found on store shelves has taken the wellness community by storm in the last year, becoming the star of thousands of TikTok posts singing the metal’s praises. Anthony De Leon, Los Angeles Times, 7 Mar. 2024 As much as color helped men stake their individuality, jewelry and watches made some shine more than others. Marc Malkin, Variety, 7 Mar. 2024 Jason Kelce's time in the NFL may be over, but his unwavering loyalty to the Philadelphia Eagles shines on through his style choices. Jordan Greene, Peoplemag, 5 Mar. 2024 This is where Why Unified's platform shines, according to several Why Unified reviews. Tyler Shepherd, Detroit Free Press, 4 Mar. 2024 Tech is a fiercely competitive industry, so supporting employees and their freedoms gives them the comfort to shine. Federico Sendra, Forbes, 26 Feb. 2024
Noun
For more shine, simply layer it on and reap the moisturizing benefits of botanical and grape oils. Jenny Berg, Vogue, 8 Mar. 2024 This cream contains oat peptides, which help to protect and lock in moisture, giving my hair a healthy shine. Essence, 5 Mar. 2024 Just half a pump adds major shine to Tandon’s long hair. Neha Tandon, Glamour, 1 Mar. 2024 Do not let anyone, regardless of race, dim your shine. Maya Richard-Craven, Forbes, 27 Feb. 2024 Penetrating Oil to damp hair before drying and OGX Extra strength damage remedy Coconut Miracle Oil Penetrating Oil after flat ironing for even more shine. Jackie Fields, Peoplemag, 25 Feb. 2024 There was a glitter booth at Wirth Park, the golf course just minutes from downtown Minneapolis where the races were held this weekend, and thousands of young spectators were sporting their own shine. Bill McKibben, The New Yorker, 22 Feb. 2024 Engraving the lid results in three fine matte lines etched into the crystal for contrast against the bottle’s shine. Demetrius Simms, Robb Report, 21 Feb. 2024 This will help the silk maintain its softness, shine, and slip. Theresa Holland, Travel + Leisure, 26 Feb. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'shine.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Verb

Middle English, from Old English scīnan; akin to Old High German skīnan to shine and perhaps to Greek skia shadow

First Known Use

Verb

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

Noun

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of shine was before the 12th century

Dictionary Entries Near shine

Cite this Entry

“Shine.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/shine. Accessed 15 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

shine

1 of 2 verb
shone ˈshōn How to pronounce shine (audio) or shined; shining
1
: to give light
the stars shone brightly
2
: to be glossy : gleam
polished the buttons until they shone like gold
3
: to be outstanding : show talent
on stage where I could really shine
4
: to cause to give light
shine a flashlight
5
: to make bright by polishing
shined my shoes

shine

2 of 2 noun
1
: brightness from light given off or reflected
2
: fair weather : sunshine
rain or shine
3
: liking, fancy
took a shine to them
4
: a polish given to shoes

More from Merriam-Webster on shine

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