1
as in to glow
to emit rays of light
the sun appears to shine particularly brightly in summer because that is when it's closest to the Earth
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to polish
to make smooth or glossy usually by repeatedly applying surface pressure
the salesman shined his shoes every morning before leaving the house
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in gleam
brightness created by light reflected from a surface
the troop inspector insisted on nothing less than a dazzling shine from every pair of shoes in the line of review
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in glow
the steady giving off of the form of radiation that makes vision possible
by the shine of the full moon we could see the rabbit helping himself to our garden vegetables
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in like
positive regard for something
took quite a shine to the new neighbors
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in trick
usually shines plural
a playful or mischievous act intended as a joke
the shines they pulled at summer camp have become embellished with each retelling
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of shine
Arik Levinson, Mercury News, 7 Apr. 2026
As her mother, Linda Emond's Susan gets only a few moments to shine — and milks every single one for all its worth, doling out wince-worthy advice rooted in real (if outdated) wisdom, as many mothers do.
—Shania Russell, Entertainment Weekly, 7 Apr. 2026
Angela Velasquez, Footwear News, 2 Apr. 2026
Shu Uemera’s antioxidant-rich hair mask is a favorite of mine, for its high-shine and soft-to-the-touch finish.
—Conçetta Ciarlo, Vogue, 1 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for shine
Verb
That would prevent claims of carbon neutrality based on faraway solar panels or wind turbines when the sun is not shining and the wind is calm.
—Arik Levinson, Mercury News, 7 Apr. 2026
As her mother, Linda Emond's Susan gets only a few moments to shine — and milks every single one for all its worth, doling out wince-worthy advice rooted in real (if outdated) wisdom, as many mothers do.
—Shania Russell, Entertainment Weekly, 7 Apr. 2026
Noun
The brand followed up with a second collection last fall, offering black denim, high-shine corset blazers and compression pants.
—Angela Velasquez, Footwear News, 2 Apr. 2026
Shu Uemera’s antioxidant-rich hair mask is a favorite of mine, for its high-shine and soft-to-the-touch finish.
—Conçetta Ciarlo, Vogue, 1 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for shine
Recent Examples of Synonyms for shine
Verb
-
The 94-year-old I Dream of Jeannie star shared a picture with husband Jon Eicholtz for Easter, and fans were amazed at how glowing the actress looked.—
Marina Watts,
Entertainment Weekly,
9 Apr. 2026
-
Look to the upper left of Venus to find Jupiter, the second brightest object in the night sky, glowing in the constellation Gemini, with Sirius — the brightest star in the night sky — shining off to the left, close to the southwestern horizon.—
Anthony Wood,
Space.com,
9 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
The high-rise fit, chic cropped cut that hits above the ankle, and zip-front button closure read polished, especially in the darker wash (no whiskering or printing here).—
Malia Griggs,
Glamour,
8 Apr. 2026
-
Their bestselling Regenerating Cleanser gently polishes away impurities and dullness to reveal a healthy-looking, radiant glow, clinically proven to make skin look brighter, smoother, more hydrated and pores look smaller.—
Tory Johnson,
ABC News,
7 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Wessels catches gleams to follow not only in magical tales but in twinkling memories, sparkling wordplay, the films of silver-screen star Veronica Lake, and his charm of a daughter, the inspiration of a half-dozen poems that take their titles from spells.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
1 Apr. 2026
-
The total attendance figure for the 2025 season (4,012,470) gleams in blue on the bottom of the ring.—
Assistant Sports Editor,
Los Angeles Times,
30 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Keep the tone light to prevent friction.—
Tarot.com,
Baltimore Sun,
6 Apr. 2026
-
Then the lights went out in the store, and one of the clerks shrieked in the dark, and another told her to remain calm.—
Catherine Lacey,
New Yorker,
5 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Other times, the likes of junior safety Kyle Hall has gotten the defense riled up after batting down a ball that was basically in Wagner’s hands.—
Shaun Goodwin,
Idaho Statesman,
9 Apr. 2026
-
On Wednesday, Meta rolled out its Muse Spark AI model, putting the tech giant company in direct competition with the likes of OpenAI's ChatGPT and Anthropic's Claude.—
Liz Napolitano,
CNBC,
9 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Supernova the Strongwoman will dazzle the crowd with risky tricks and demolition.—
Jaclyn Cosgrove,
Los Angeles Times,
10 Apr. 2026
-
CEOs who have climbed to the top of their industries have an eagle eye for talent who drive success—and many have developed their own tricks to find the right hires.—
Emma Burleigh,
Fortune,
10 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Shelly Cayette-Weston, along with the rest of everyone associated with the Charlotte Hornets, can’t stop beaming about the team’s success.—
Roderick Boone,
Charlotte Observer,
6 Apr. 2026
-
Nicholas Hoult beams with his bleached hair and Prada button-up courtside at the Lakers versus Cleveland Cavaliers game in Los Angeles on March 31.—
Escher Walcott,
PEOPLE,
4 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Mona says, rub her down with alcohol, then some Vicks, put the kettle on for the hot water bottle.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
3 Apr. 2026
-
Nakua discussed touchdown celebrations on YouTuber Adin Ross' stream, and, in the video, Ross instructed Nakua to spike the ball, flex and then rub his hands together.—
Ryan Morik,
FOXNews.com,
1 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Shine.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/shine. Accessed 12 Apr. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
