sunburst

noun

sun·​burst ˈsən-ˌbərst 

often attributive

1

: a flash of sunlight especially through a break in clouds

2

a

: a jeweled brooch representing a sun surrounded by rays

b

: a design in the form of rays diverging from a central point

Examples of sunburst in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Or a spinny orange swirl of spaghetti pomodoro atop Porta’s Tommaso platter, which features sardines in a cerulean sunburst ($198)? —Helen Rosner, New Yorker, 16 Nov. 2025

Featuring a sunburst ombre dial in a range of hues, from silver white to charcoal gray, the face also includes Arabic numerals as a nod to the original 1917 dial. —Fairchild Studio, Footwear News, 14 Nov. 2025

Speaking of lids, they’re crafted with Tupperware’s classic sunburst design and feature the brand’s signature instant seal lid to lock in freshness and prevent leaks and spills. —Alicia Geigel, Southern Living, 12 Nov. 2025

The sunburst trout dish with heirloom tomatoes, Jimmy Nardello sweet peppers, and spices took us both straight back to the Mediterranean. —Jenn Rice, Travel + Leisure, 3 Nov. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1815, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for sunburst

• amerced
• cloudburst
• coerced
• conversed
• disbursed
• dispersed
• headfirst
• immersed
• outburst
• rehearsed
• reversed
• submersed

Kids Definition

sunburst

noun

sun·​burst ˈsən-ˌbərst 

1

: a flash of sunlight especially through a break in the clouds

2

a

: a jeweled pin representing a sun surrounded by rays

b

: a design in the form of rays extending from a central point