sunshine

noun sun·shine \ ˈsən-ˌshīn \

Updated on: 11 Apr 2018

Definition of sunshine

1 a : the sun's light or direct rays

b : the warmth and light given by the sun's rays

c : a spot or surface on which the sun's light shines

2 : someone or something (such as a person, condition, or influence) that radiates warmth, cheer, or happiness

3 : sunshine bass

—

sunshiny

play \ˈsən-ˌshī-nē\ adjective

See sunshine defined for English-language learners

See sunshine defined for kids

Examples of sunshine in a Sentence

Today's forecast calls for sunshine.
Let's go out and enjoy the sunshine!
She was the kind of person who brought sunshine into people's lives.

Recent Examples of sunshine from the Web

Despite lots of sunshine, temperatures really struggled today.

— ian livingston, Washington Post, "PM Update: Winds die off for a chilly night, and then we’ve got a warm Friday on tap," 5 Apr. 2018
There could be breaks of sunshine late in the day in western Connecticut.

— gary lessor, courant.com, "Blustery, Rainy Wednesday But Temperatures To Reach 60 Degrees," 3 Apr. 2018
The plan is to build the plant in Saudi Arabia’s vast desert, which gets above-average amounts of sunshine.

— liz stinson, Curbed, "Saudi Arabia is planning to build the world’s largest solar power plant," 3 Apr. 2018
For those who can’t get through the day without a cup of coffee, a judge in California has put a damper on that morning cup of sunshine.

— natalie dreier, ajc, "Coffee and cancer? Judge rules your morning joe must come with warning in California," 30 Mar. 2018
The traffic jam had long since proved unmanageable, and most of us left our machines and trudged many long uphill blocks to the Bowl…. By 4:45 a.m. the sky was light, but no hint of sunshine had crept over the hills into the Bowl.

— scott harrison, latimes.com, "From the Archives: Celebrating Easter," 30 Mar. 2018
All of us seek a quiet mind, a glimpse of sunshine through the trees.

— christopher solomon, Outside Online, "The Boy Who Lived on Edges," 22 Mar. 2018
Children, alive and dead, fan out around him like rays of sunshine.

— john freeman, BostonGlobe.com, "One birthday and a funeral," 16 Mar. 2018
To top it all off, this delightful ray of sunshine was also arrested and charged Wednesday with drug and weapons possession on school grounds.

— breanna edwards, The Root, "‘I Hope It’s a Trap and Y’all Get Shot’: Sister of White Supremacist Dylann Roof Sends Hostile Snapchat, Is Arrested on Charges Over Weapons, Drugs on School Grounds," 15 Mar. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'sunshine.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

First Known Use of sunshine

13th century

sunshine Synonyms

sunshine

adjective

Definition of sunshine

: forbidding or restricting closed meetings of legislative or executive bodies and sometimes providing for public access to records

sunshine laws

Recent Examples of sunshine from the Web

But states like Hawaii and parts of Arizona, as well as U.S. territories like Puerto Rico and Guam, have opted not to observe daylight saving time since those areas get sunshine year-round.

— jennifer calfas, Time, "Daylight Saving Time Could Soon Be Year-Round in Florida," 24 Mar. 2018

First Known Use of sunshine

1972

SUNSHINE Defined for English Language Learners

sunshine

noun

Definition of sunshine for English Language Learners

: the sun's light or rays : warmth and light from the sun
: a feeling of happiness
—used as a form of address that can be either friendly or rude

SUNSHINE Defined for Kids

sunshine

noun sun·shine \ ˈsən-ˌshīn \

Definition of sunshine for Students

1 : the sun's light or direct rays : the warmth and light given by the sun's rays

2 : something that spreads warmth or happiness

You are my sunshine.

Law Dictionary

sunshine

adjective sun·shine

legal Definition of sunshine

: forbidding or restricting closed meetings of legislative or executive bodies and sometimes providing for public access to government records

sunshine laws

— see also Freedom of Information Act

Learn More about sunshine

See words that rhyme with sunshine Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for sunshine Spanish Central: Translation of sunshine Nglish: Translation of sunshine for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of sunshine for Arabic speakers Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about sunshine

Seen and Heard

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sunshine

Definition of sunshine

sunshiny

Examples of sunshine in a Sentence

Recent Examples of sunshine from the Web

First Known Use of sunshine

sunshine Synonyms

Synonyms

Near Antonyms

Related Words

sunshine

Definition of sunshine

Recent Examples of sunshine from the Web

First Known Use of sunshine

Phrases Related to SUNSHINE

Related Phrases

SUNSHINE Defined for English Language Learners

sunshine

Definition of sunshine for English Language Learners

SUNSHINE Defined for Kids

sunshine

Definition of sunshine for Students

Law Dictionary

sunshine

legal Definition of sunshine

Learn More about sunshine

Seen and Heard

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