silver lining

noun

: a consoling or hopeful prospect

Examples of silver lining in a Sentence

If there's a silver lining to losing my job, it's that I'll now be able to go to school full-time and finish my degree earlier.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Although the crew is still experiencing a whirlwind of emotions, Koch said one silver lining is their ability to sleep in any time zone that offers some shut-eye. Paloma Chavez, PEOPLE, 18 Apr. 2026 Claxton sounds ready for a different conversation, one that puts more weight on winning and less on silver linings. C.j. Holmes, New York Daily News, 17 Apr. 2026 But Cranston found the silver lining. Taijuan Moorman, USA Today, 16 Apr. 2026 Hawley found a silver lining in the relocation, noting that Fillion’s previous ABC crime procedural, Castle, on which Hawley served as executive producer/co-showrunner, spent its entire eight-season run in the Monday 10 PM slot. Nellie Andreeva, Deadline, 13 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for silver lining

Word History

Etymology

from the phrase "every cloud has a silver lining"

First Known Use

1871, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of silver lining was in 1871

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Cite this Entry

“Silver lining.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/silver%20lining. Accessed 21 Apr. 2026.

Kids Definition

silver lining

noun
: a consoling or hopeful prospect
looked for the silver lining in a bad situation
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