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

Fair enough, but should these shows still try to be for everyone, or is that as antiquated as the tanning bed? —Lacey Rose, HollywoodReporter, 5 Aug. 2025

In May, Elle magazine asked if tanning was having a resurgence. —Katherine Fung, MSNBC Newsweek, 31 July 2025

Need to carry it from the pool to the grass, for some extra tanning time on firm ground? —Stacia Datskovska, Footwear News, 23 July 2025

Another apparent fan of tanning is Robert F. Kennedy Jr., America’s perpetually bronzed health secretary, who was spotted visiting a tanning salon last month. —Yasmin Tayag, The Atlantic, 19 July 2025

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