1
a
often capitalized
: the luminous celestial body around which the earth and other planets revolve, from which they receive heat and light, which is composed mainly of hydrogen and helium, and which has a mean distance from earth of about 93,000,000 miles (150,000,000 kilometers), a linear diameter of 864,000 miles (1,390,000 kilometers), and a mass 332,000 times greater than earth
b
: a celestial body like the sun : star
2
: the heat or light radiated from the sun
played in the sun all day
3
: one resembling the sun (as in warmth or brilliance)
4
: the rising or setting of the sun
from sun to sun
sunned; sunning
: to expose to or as if to the rays of the sun
: to sun oneself
Sunday
Synonyms
Examples of sun in a Sentence
Noun
The rain has stopped and the sun is shining.
The sun rises in the east and sets in the west.
the warmth of the sun's rays
They dream of traveling to distant suns.
Try to keep out of the sun.
The cat lay basking in the sun.
Verb
People sunned themselves on the hillside.
Recent Examples on the Web
Erin Johnson, Peoplemag, 16 July 2024
Toward the center of the deck, an eight-seat Jacuzzi and sizeable sun pad sit beneath one of the two towering masts.
—Rachel Cormack, Robb Report, 16 July 2024
Nneya Richards, Travel + Leisure, 9 July 2024
Our rental car clung to the outside lane of the highway winding up into Big Sur and dipping down to rocky beaches where seals and sea lions sunned themselves.
—Maureen Corrigan, Washington Post, 28 June 2024
See all Example Sentences for sun 
Noun
Coola Organic Sun Silk Sunscreen Drops Duff turns to these Coola sun silk drops for her own face protection when spending time outdoors with the family.
—Erin Johnson, Peoplemag, 16 July 2024
Toward the center of the deck, an eight-seat Jacuzzi and sizeable sun pad sit beneath one of the two towering masts.
—Rachel Cormack, Robb Report, 16 July 2024
Verb
Gorgeous with a pair of cat eye sunglasses, this is made for sunning on the bow of a bobbing gozzo.
—Nneya Richards, Travel + Leisure, 9 July 2024
Our rental car clung to the outside lane of the highway winding up into Big Sur and dipping down to rocky beaches where seals and sea lions sunned themselves.
—Maureen Corrigan, Washington Post, 28 June 2024
See all Example Sentences for sun
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'sun.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near sun
Cite this Entry
“Sun.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sun. Accessed 26 Jul. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
sun
1 of 2 noun1
a
: the star around which the planets revolve, from which they receive heat and light, and which has an average distance from the earth of about 93,000,000 miles (150,000,000 kilometers), a diameter of 864,000 miles (1,390,000 kilometers), and a mass 332,000 times greater than earth
b
: a star like the sun
2
: the heat or light given off by the sun : sunshine
3
: one resembling the sun usually in brilliance
4
: the rising or setting of the sun
from sun to sun
sun
2 of 2 verb
sunned; sunning
1
: to expose to or as if to the rays of the sun
2
: to sun oneself
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