1
as in glows
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 rubs
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
as in trick
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 shines
Literary Hub, 11 June 2026
Compact and endlessly charming, Touch of Gold® Holly shines year-round with brilliant golden foliage that illuminates the garden.
—Kim Toscano, Southern Living, 11 June 2026
Yes — and this is where the festival shines for soccer families.
—Chandler Boese, Kansas City Star, 11 June 2026
Danielle Brooks shimmers and shines in an off-the-shoulder gown at the 79th annual Tony Awards on June 7 in New York City.
—Brendan Le, PEOPLE, 10 June 2026
Venus shines to the right in the image, surrounded by a diffuse haze as the sunlight reflected off its surface illuminates a wisp of cloud during its passage through Earth's atmosphere.
—Anthony Wood, Space.com, 9 June 2026
His face lights up with an X-ray filter before the seal of the Richard Nixon Foundation shines on the screen.
—Kenneal Patterson, Vanity Fair, 9 June 2026
The weekly column takes you behind the scenes and shines a spotlight on unique stories.
—Los Angeles Times, 9 June 2026
Elana Meyers Taylor’s sixth Olympic medal shines brightest.
—Sean Gregory, Time, 9 June 2026
Ethan Pronev, Forbes.com, 28 May 2026
Interior defensive line shines, edge rushers still growing One of the major surprises of the spring was Will Smith Jr.
—Cameron Teague Robinson, New York Times, 27 Apr. 2026
Sandy shines, Marlins win to launch latest season of budget-ball // Sister Jean gone.
—Greg Cote
april 19, Miami Herald, 19 Apr. 2026
After a few swipes from the bass, the big school will break up into smaller schools trying to escape, which is where your A-rig shines.
—Derek Horner, Outdoor Life, 16 Apr. 2026
Their love for the handmade shines in the Lily tables, a set of nesting tables made with handcast bronze.
—Nicole Hoey, Robb Report, 31 Mar. 2026
Summer produce shines in this simple salad that will start the meal off on a bright note.
—Josh Miller, Southern Living, 11 Mar. 2026
That’s where the storytelling shines.
—Christopher Claxton, Billboard, 14 Jan. 2026
From Mexico to India While essential in Italian cooking, tomato paste shines in Middle Eastern, Mexican, Indian, and American comfort foods.
—Anne Wolf, Martha Stewart, 7 Jan. 2026
Verb
In an era when most Europeans regarded indigenous people as lesser beings—even sometimes as beasts—George Forster’s attitude shines out in the darkness of colonial history.
—Literary Hub, 11 June 2026
Compact and endlessly charming, Touch of Gold® Holly shines year-round with brilliant golden foliage that illuminates the garden.
—Kim Toscano, Southern Living, 11 June 2026
Yes — and this is where the festival shines for soccer families.
—Chandler Boese, Kansas City Star, 11 June 2026
Danielle Brooks shimmers and shines in an off-the-shoulder gown at the 79th annual Tony Awards on June 7 in New York City.
—Brendan Le, PEOPLE, 10 June 2026
Venus shines to the right in the image, surrounded by a diffuse haze as the sunlight reflected off its surface illuminates a wisp of cloud during its passage through Earth's atmosphere.
—Anthony Wood, Space.com, 9 June 2026
His face lights up with an X-ray filter before the seal of the Richard Nixon Foundation shines on the screen.
—Kenneal Patterson, Vanity Fair, 9 June 2026
The weekly column takes you behind the scenes and shines a spotlight on unique stories.
—Los Angeles Times, 9 June 2026
Elana Meyers Taylor’s sixth Olympic medal shines brightest.
—Sean Gregory, Time, 9 June 2026
Noun
Generating a test, refactoring a fragile selector or maintaining a test suite are the kinds of tasks where AI coding shines.
—Ethan Pronev, Forbes.com, 28 May 2026
Interior defensive line shines, edge rushers still growing One of the major surprises of the spring was Will Smith Jr.
—Cameron Teague Robinson, New York Times, 27 Apr. 2026
Sandy shines, Marlins win to launch latest season of budget-ball // Sister Jean gone.
—Greg Cote
april 19, Miami Herald, 19 Apr. 2026
After a few swipes from the bass, the big school will break up into smaller schools trying to escape, which is where your A-rig shines.
—Derek Horner, Outdoor Life, 16 Apr. 2026
Their love for the handmade shines in the Lily tables, a set of nesting tables made with handcast bronze.
—Nicole Hoey, Robb Report, 31 Mar. 2026
Summer produce shines in this simple salad that will start the meal off on a bright note.
—Josh Miller, Southern Living, 11 Mar. 2026
That’s where the storytelling shines.
—Christopher Claxton, Billboard, 14 Jan. 2026
From Mexico to India While essential in Italian cooking, tomato paste shines in Middle Eastern, Mexican, Indian, and American comfort foods.
—Anne Wolf, Martha Stewart, 7 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for shines
Verb
-
His writing glows with his obvious love of plants and animals, not least his faithful dog, Roger.—
Rachel Syme,
New Yorker,
10 June 2026
-
Because of the black hole's immense gravitational forces, an AGN glows very brightly.—
Robert Lea,
Space.com,
8 June 2026
Verb
-
The plastic bristles coax out loose hair as your cat rubs against it.—
BestReviews,
Mercury News,
15 May 2026
-
Expect wagyu brisket, lemon-zested ribs and rubs with hints of curry or tandoori.—
Bud Kennedy,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
1 May 2026
Noun
-
Folarin Balogun is now the second US player to score more than once in a World Cup match, after Bert Patenaude – who happened to score the World Cup’s first-ever hat-trick in the inaugural 1930 edition … against Paraguay, so less.—
Jacob Lev,
CNN Money,
13 June 2026
-
These chic wide-leg trousers will do just the trick, made of an ultra-soft and airy fabric ideal for looking polished and cool on warm-weather travels.—
Julia Morlino,
Travel + Leisure,
12 June 2026
Verb
-
Heat radiates from the pages of this extraordinary novel about a poor family in rural Mississippi in the days leading up to Hurricane Katrina.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
9 June 2026
-
Your beauty radiates from your core.—
Chanel Vargas,
InStyle,
29 May 2026
Verb
-
Expect to see even tinier dots and minuscule French tips atop jelly polishes in summery shades like fuchsia and blood orange.—
Annie Blay-Tettey,
Allure,
4 June 2026
-
Sheer jelly polishes create a seamless ombré effect.—
Ariel Wodarcyk,
InStyle,
2 June 2026
Noun
-
Crews often found release in rowdiness, camaraderie, practical jokes, and the inevitable coping mechanisms of drink and drugs.—
Richard Brody,
New Yorker,
6 Apr. 2026
-
Los Angeles Angels: 5.7 percent optimism 2025: 11.5 percent (28) 2024: 15.6 percent (26) 2023: 81.1 percent (15) 2022: 71.4 percent (16) Pessimist Jake: This has to be the longest, meanest practical joke in history.—
Stephen J. Nesbitt,
New York Times,
30 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Like Beckham’s dress, the 100-percent silk dress softly gleams in the light.—
Izzy Baskette,
PEOPLE,
12 Dec. 2025
-
Despite a couple of funky skips, the album is fueled by the hunger of an artist who really wants the pop life again, perking up electro-scuzz and arena rock with new wave that gleams like glitter.—
Pitchfork,
Pitchfork,
4 Dec. 2025
Verb
-
Its main ingredient, chebula, is a potent antioxidant that smooths and brightens skin.—
Christina Butan,
InStyle,
8 June 2026
-
Medium compression smooths the waist, hips, and thighs, while a pull-aside gusset simplifies bathroom breaks.—
Malia Griggs,
Glamour,
4 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Shines.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/shines. Accessed 14 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
