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.
That is the silver lining to this mess for me. Marina Watts, Entertainment Weekly, 8 Apr. 2026 If there was a silver lining, LeBron James didn’t play, and so the 41-year-old star avoided adding a third injury to the pile. Benjamin Royer, Oc Register, 8 Apr. 2026 Yes, injuries are the silver lining. Matt Schneidman, New York Times, 7 Apr. 2026 For renters looking to buy in Atlanta, Zillow's findings point to a silver lining. Christopher Harris, CBS News, 6 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 12 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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