tanning

noun

tan·​ning ˈta-niŋ 

1

: a browning of the skin especially by exposure to sun

2

: the art or process by which a skin is tanned

3

: a sound spanking

4

: a natural darkening and hardening of the cuticle of an insect immediately after molting

Examples of tanning in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Young people take new shine to tanning And there are indications that tanning is making a comeback among teens and young adults, inspired by the melange of health and wellness content proliferating on social media and TikTok. —Will Stone, NPR, 19 Mar. 2026

The federal rule, first proposed in 2015, aimed to prevent minors from using indoor sunlamps or tanning beds, and required anyone over 18 who uses a tanning salon to sign a waiver acknowledging the risks, including skin cancer and severe burns. —Kaitlin Sullivan, NBC news, 18 Mar. 2026

The orange of a President who was a little too zealous at the tanning salon. —Jenn Harris, Los Angeles Times, 9 Mar. 2026

This area doubles as a hub for health and beauty businesses including sauna suites, a nail salon, fitness classes, a barbershop and a hair removal and spray tanning combo concept. —Nora Heston Tarte, Mercury News, 24 Feb. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Phrases Containing tanning

• tanning bed
• tanning booth

Rhymes for tanning

• panning
• planing
• planning
• scanning
• spanning
• preplanning
• replanning
• scintiscanning

Kids Definition

tanning

noun

tan·​ning

ˈtan-iŋ

1

: the art or process by which an animal skin is tanned

2

: a browning of the skin especially by exposure to the sun

3

: a usually severe whipping

Medical Definition

tanning

noun

tan·​ning ˈtan-iŋ 

: a browning of the skin by exposure to sun