sunset

noun

ˈsən-ˌset How to pronounce sunset (audio)
Definition of sunsetnext
as in dusk
the time from when the sun begins to set to the onset of total darkness the glow of the western sky at sunset

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 sunset By sunset Saturday, 45 people were rescued, and 37 others were evacuated Sunday. — Greg Norman-Diamond, FOXNews.com, 1 Sep. 2026 Besides taking in the beauty of the Milky Way core, visible just after sunset toward the southwest, travelers can also try spotting the Andromeda Galaxy (M31). — Michael D'estries, Travel + Leisure, 1 Sep. 2026 The event took place near the Great Pyramid of Giza; one photo shows the couple kissing at sunset with the Sphinx and pyramids in the background. — Andy Kroll, ProPublica, 31 Aug. 2026 The Christopher Street 1 train is a seven-minute walk away, and the Hudson River promenade is even closer for sunset runs. — Matthew Sedacca, Curbed, 31 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for sunset
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sunset
  1. dusk
  2. night
  3. twilight
  4. evening
  5. sundown
Noun
  • But my eyes or mind (or maybe even my soul) just wouldn’t stop waiting for dusk.
    — Holden Frith, TheWeek, 4 Sep. 2026
  • For children themselves, wonder remains abundant—in the bigness of a Tyrannosaurus rex in a museum, or the flicker of fireflies in the summer dusk.
    — Ian Bogost, The Atlantic, 4 Sep. 2026
Definition of dusk
Noun
  • Judge returned to the Yankees’ lineup Tuesday night carrying an astonishing 177 OPS+ in his career.
    — Jayson Stark, New York Times, 9 Sep. 2026
  • Where ayahuasca ceremonies typically happen at night – each participant lying down inside a private journey of visions, tears and purging – huachuma ceremonies happen in daylight.
    — Pardis Mahdavi, The Conversation, 8 Sep. 2026
Definition of night
Noun
  • For evening observers, this apparition has been more frustrating than triumphant, with Venus lingering low in the glow of twilight instead of climbing into a commanding position.
    — Joe Rao, Space.com, 5 Sep. 2026
  • But there have also been many mid-30s former All-Stars who couldn’t muster anything remotely close to greatness during their twilight tours with the Heat.
    — Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 23 Aug. 2026
Definition of twilight
Noun
  • By a neat twist of fate, Jose Mourinho’s first Champions League game of his new spell as Real Madrid manager sees Inter visit the Bernabeu on Tuesday evening.
    — Dermot Corrigan, New York Times, 8 Sep. 2026
  • The real star of the evening was not Waititi but Simon de Pury, the longtime and legendary amfAR auctioneer who knows how to work a crowd and the room.
    — Chris Murphy, Vanity Fair, 7 Sep. 2026
Definition of evening
Noun
  • Hochul has also ordered New York State Police to step up patrols near synagogues and other Jewish organizations during the holidays, which start with Rosh Hashanah at sundown Friday and continue with Yom Kippur later in the month.
    — Dave Goldiner, New York Daily News, 8 Sep. 2026
  • The planet slips quickly from view, setting just 35 minutes after sundown by month's end.
    — Joe Rao, Space.com, 5 Sep. 2026
Definition of sundown

Browse Nearby Words

sunseekers
sunset
sunsets
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Sunset.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sunset. Accessed 10 Sep. 2026.

Copy Citation
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of loath

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

Why do we use apostrophes to show possession?

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

What's the difference between 'fascism' and 'socialism'?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Back to School Vocabulary

Words from the 'Odyssey'

Ye Olde Nincompoop: Old-Fashioned Words for 'Stupid'

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of
See More

Popular

See More

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Back to School Vocabulary
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
anagrams on a chalk board
Word Builder Quiz Vol. 2 Pick the letter that when added to a word will ma...
See All