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

If there was a silver lining, at least Britain’s trigger-pulls off the start line were an improvement on their woeful Saturday starts. — Andrew Rice, New York Times, 26 July 2026

With Big Bear eagle Jackie in intensive care for nearly a week battling an unexplained malady, fans of the Internet-famous bird and her mate Shadow were sorely in need of a silver lining — and just got one. — Lila Seidman, Los Angeles Times, 24 July 2026

The news was devastating to his family, but Patti Davis, Reagan’s third daughter, looked for a silver lining. — Niya Doyle, PEOPLE, 19 July 2026

Amid a devastating drought, Colorado’s labyrinthine water management rules have yielded a silver lining for rafters, kayakers and visitors seeking the thrill of whitewater. — Elise Schmelzer, Denver Post, 16 July 2026

Word History

Etymology

from the phrase "every cloud has a silver lining"

First Known Use

1871, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for silver lining

• intertwining
• realigning
• recombining
• redefining
• redesigning
• underlining
• undermining
• aligning
• assigning
• calcining
• combining
• confining

Kids Definition

silver lining

noun

: a consoling or hopeful prospect

looked for the silver lining in a bad situation