starlight

noun

star·​light ˈstär-ˌlīt How to pronounce starlight (audio)
: the light given by the stars

Examples of starlight in a Sentence

We had to find our way by starlight.
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.
Nuclear fusion deep inside these stars was churning out the very first starlight of the cosmos. Kiona N. Smith, Space.com, 28 Apr. 2025 Further investigations confirmed it was indeed caused by an exoplanet—and the delay in the starlight’s return came from its comet-like tail. Margherita Bassi, Smithsonian Magazine, 24 Apr. 2025 But with that starlight also came periods of darkness, including years when the building sat empty and derelict. Jessica Gelt, Los Angeles Times, 6 Apr. 2025 Jake Taylor of the University of Oxford, who studies the atmospheres of far-away planets with the James Webb Space Telescope, did a quick reanalysis of the starlight filtering through K2-18b's atmosphere. Nell Greenfieldboyce, NPR, 25 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for starlight

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of starlight was in the 14th century

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Cite this Entry

“Starlight.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/starlight. Accessed 23 May. 2025.

Kids Definition

starlight

noun
star·​light ˈstär-ˌlīt How to pronounce starlight (audio)
: the light given by the stars

More from Merriam-Webster on starlight

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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