How to Use tan in a Sentence

tan

1 of 3 verb
  • The rawhide can be tanned just like the stuff that comes from cows.
    Sarah Zhang, The Atlantic, 21 Sep. 2017
  • The hides were packed in salt and sent back to Pakistan to be tanned.
    Sig Christenson, ExpressNews.com, 15 Sep. 2019
  • Keep in mind that people can tan and burn at the same time.
    Lauren Sigfusson, Discover Magazine, 8 May 2018
  • The group plans to eat the meat, tan the hide, and mount the head of their inaugural catch.
    Paul Richards, Field & Stream, 30 Aug. 2023
  • This is the form of light that causes skin to tan and to age, the form used in tanning salons.
    Lisa Sanders, M.d., New York Times, 6 July 2023
  • The tanning pool is made of thick, durable PVC and fits adults up to 6 foot, 2 inches tall.
    Lauren Taylor, Southern Living, 28 June 2023
  • For one, people are still tanning—not just in beds, but also the beach and in the park.
    Lauren Valenti, Marie Claire, 9 June 2015
  • After 25 minutes, the peaches are tanned, caramelized and the skin can be peeled off with a slight tug of the thumb.
    Chuck Blount, San Antonio Express-News, 9 July 2018
  • The man is deeply tanned, in his mid-sixties and lives in a park near the Jordan River.
    Sofia Jeremias, The Salt Lake Tribune, 12 Aug. 2023
  • Constance smiles and holds up the cards, tall in her tennis whites, her legs and arms tanned.
    Kate Walbert, The New Yorker, 26 Aug. 2019
  • Yes, all skin types—whether your face is dry or oily, dark or light, quick to tan or burn.
    Jenna Ryu, SELF, 21 June 2023
  • Not all of us have time to just tan our vaginas, Shailene!
    Sophia Benoit, GQ, 16 May 2018
  • His face is coffee tanned and his hands are big as bear paws.
    Ned Rozell, Anchorage Daily News, 5 May 2018
  • Close by, dozens of other naked bodies tanned in the sun and bobbed in the shallow water.
    Davy Rothbart, GQ, 18 July 2017
  • Stray leaves and tan hot dog wrappers litter the infield, broadcast about the dirt by the wind.
    Chad Pergram, Fox News, 6 July 2017
  • Von Rupp looks every bit the modern-surfer, tanned, in shape and his hair partly bleached by the sun and sea.
    Matt Majendie, CNN, 4 Oct. 2017
  • Her ID card shows a smiling woman with gray hair, blue eyes and tanned skin.
    Cynthia Hubert, sacbee, 28 July 2017
  • The purpose of sun protection was still to safely tan, not to fully block out the UV rays of the sun.
    Allure, 29 May 2018
  • Beavers are skinned up the belly in what’s called an open style, and pelts can be sold at auction or tanned to keep.
    Joseph Biebert, Outdoor Life, 3 Apr. 2023
  • Soon after burial, the acid starts tanning the body’s skin, hair and nails.
    Christian Als, Smithsonian, 29 May 2017
  • As Palm Beach’s tanned, tightened snowbirds depart, the club is about to close for the summer.
    David A. Fahrenthold, Washington Post, 5 May 2017
  • Shearling, which is sheep hide that is tanned with the fleece left on, is very effective.
    Bob Beacham, Field & Stream, 3 Aug. 2023
  • Love reading while at the beach, but can never find a comfortable way to tan your back at the same time?
    Tainaya Nash, House Beautiful, 14 June 2019
  • Sicilian blood works like the sun, tanning the flesh from the inside out.
    Lisa Taddeo, Harper's Magazine, 30 Mar. 2020
  • The 31-year-old surfer is tanned and freckled, his hair gelled back to give that permanent ocean-wet vibe.
    Brittany Meiling, San Diego Union-Tribune, 14 Oct. 2019
  • My chest is still day-one tanned, but my boobs, underarms, and tummy are as pale as the day I was born.
    Georgia Murray, refinery29.com, 27 June 2018
  • This leather pouch is made from genuine leather that's sourced, tanned, and constructed in the United States.
    The Editors, Outside Online, 24 Apr. 2018
  • The final straw to break the camel’s back will probably be tanning salons.
    Jacob Gallagher, WSJ, 14 May 2018
  • The tri-tone leather is tanned using a new process that employs wastewater from olive pressing.
    Dave Vanderwerp, Car and Driver, 18 Aug. 2023
  • He was brought into court in a wheelchair, sporting a white beard, glasses, and tan prison garb.
    Travis Andersen, BostonGlobe.com, 9 July 2018
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tan

2 of 3 adjective
  • I can't believe how tan she is!
  • The rest of the lids were a tan shade slightly lighter than her skin tone.
    Gabi Thorne, Allure, 17 Mar. 2023
  • Clooney toured the Venetian canals in a black skater dress and tan flats.
    Hannah Jackson, Vogue, 1 Sep. 2023
  • Alani, in chains and dressed in a tan jail outfit, did not speak in court.
    Curt Anderson, BostonGlobe.com, 4 Mar. 2020
  • He was last seen wearing tan pants and a long-sleeve shirt.
    oregonlive, 16 Feb. 2023
  • She was last seen wearing tan pants and a black tank top.
    Kyani Reid, NBC News, 3 Oct. 2023
  • The crust should be lightly tan on the edges and the bottom of the crust should have some color as well.
    Micah A Leal, Southern Living, 10 Aug. 2023
  • The heel isn’t too tall, adding 1.5 inches of height and the wedges come in black, tan, and blue colors.
    Anna Popp, Travel + Leisure, 10 July 2023
  • His matcha had slopped onto one of his tan suede loafers.
    Alexis Soloski, New York Times, 14 June 2023
  • Grab them in this tan shade or opt for the umber hue to best match your wild, wild wardrobe.
    Alyssa Brascia, Peoplemag, 9 Oct. 2023
  • The late-season fruit is yellow or tan, rich, and sweet.
    Southern Living Editors, Southern Living, 19 Feb. 2024
  • Trademark farmer tans and sock line tan lines – big time!
    Susan Glaser, cleveland, 3 May 2020
  • Her curls formed a close cap framing her light tan face.
    David Canfield, EW.com, 5 Nov. 2019
  • The chicken should be falling off the bone and become quite tan as well.
    Washington Post, 9 Mar. 2021
  • The brown and tan python's name is SS Wraps and is as thick as a football, Trexel said.
    Alissa Zhu, USA TODAY, 20 May 2017
  • Tekiyah was last seen wearing brown or tan shorts with a pink tank top.
    Carol Robinson, AL.com, 19 June 2017
  • The man was described as white, about 60-years-old, about 6-feet tall and slightly tan.
    Bob Sandrick, cleveland, 6 Aug. 2021
  • The two defendants wore tan jumpsuits and held their hands cuffed in front of them.
    Susan Scutti, CNN, 27 Aug. 2019
  • For her shopping trip, Crawford wore a pair of tan suede loafers.
    Hannah Jackson, Vogue, 11 Oct. 2023
  • The blue tide and tan shirts have a UPF rating of 30+ while the other colors have a 40+ rating.
    Meg Carney, Field & Stream, 3 May 2023
  • Stewart wore a tan sweater and cream pants, while Wonders wore head-to-toe black.
    Dave Quinn, Peoplemag, 9 Apr. 2023
  • Deer mice tend to be bigger than house mice and have white bellies and brown or tan backs.
    Rachel Kurzius, Washington Post, 12 July 2023
  • The piebald buck was almost entirely white, save for the backs of its ears and a small swirl of tan hair on its face.
    Katie Hill, Outdoor Life, 3 Jan. 2024
  • Snap it up in sizes XXS through 5X and four colors: doe tan, black, hot pink, and lavender.
    Clara McMahon, Peoplemag, 11 Jan. 2024
  • Police said the knife sheath was made of tan leather with U.S. Marine Corps insignia.
    Suryatapa Bhattacharya, WSJ, 2 Mar. 2023
  • The first symptoms of late blight appear as brown or tan spots on the upper leaves of tomato plants.
    Megan Hughes, Better Homes & Gardens, 1 May 2023
  • In the fall, Cardi B wore a tan boot version and paired it with a distressed leather jacket.
    Christian Allaire, Vogue, 4 Dec. 2023
  • Three men wearing only tan-colored briefs kneel on the stage.
    Tim Diovanni, Dallas News, 12 Nov. 2020
  • The tan leather transitions easily from a day to night bag.
    Hillary Maglin, Travel + Leisure, 19 Sep. 2023
  • Think white or tan linen, black velvet, gray wool...these classic fabrics will stand the test of time.
    Samantha Leal, Marie Claire, 23 June 2016
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tan

3 of 3 noun
  • I got a tan on my vacation.
  • Lee’s wife and son stood out in the sea of brown and tan.
    Miguel Torres, The Arizona Republic, 2 June 2023
  • To complete the look, the pop star wore a set of lime-green nails and a bronze tan.
    Tish Weinstock, Vogue, 9 July 2021
  • It was painted gray and tan, with stonework around the door and a bed of tulips.
    Michelle Theriault Boots, Anchorage Daily News, 22 July 2023
  • Use one drop for a light tan or more to up the bronze factor.
    Cristina Montemayor, SELF, 27 May 2022
  • The sparkling tan and brown puzzle-piece pattern curved and dipped out of the light.
    Rebecca Renner, Outside Online, 14 May 2020
  • It’s got more movement, a lot of tans again, dark tans.
    Gina Mayfield, Dallas News, 15 Sep. 2023
  • Pair them with some no-show socks to flash the last of your tan, or make a snuggly pair the star of the show.
    Talia Abbas, Glamour, 26 Aug. 2021
  • Even the restraints used to tie her to her lounge chair are a soft-tan color.
    Jessica Goldstein, Vulture, 1 Apr. 2021
  • This trio has all the tools needed to achieve a seamless neck-to-toe tan.
    Jasmine Washington, Seventeen, 13 June 2022
  • He was last seen wearing a tan and green coat, blue pants and a brown beanie.
    Marc Ramirez, Dallas News, 22 Feb. 2020
  • Rather, creams, tans, and earth textures are on the rise, Austin reports.
    Hallie Milstein, Southern Living, 28 Aug. 2023
  • This is the form of light that causes skin to tan and to age, the form used in tanning salons.
    Lisa Sanders, M.d., New York Times, 6 July 2023
  • Heck, let the mind wander to sunglass tans and cheesy beach reads.
    Kaitlyn Yarborough, Southern Living, 27 Nov. 2023
  • The next day, those friends were parking their cream, tan and chocolate off to the side of the Lemmons' home.
    Dana Hunsinger Benbow, Indianapolis Star, 23 Apr. 2020
  • Their coats are usually brown and tan mixed with gray and black.
    Matthew Every, Field & Stream, 7 Dec. 2023
  • This chili oxford is the perfect color to work with navy and tan.
    Brad Lanphear, Men's Health, 8 Sep. 2023
  • The Anova’s came out a reddish gold; the other oven’s came out an ashen tan.
    Wilson Rothman, WSJ, 4 Oct. 2020
  • Soft tan lines had set up camp on her shoulders, earned despite the chill.
    Jessi Jezewska Stevens, Harper’s Magazine , 28 Sep. 2022
  • These patches of skin can be red, light, dark tan, white, pink or flesh-toned and can be flat or raised.
    NBC News, 20 Feb. 2020
  • There is also a small Jacuzzi next to the pool, along with lounge chairs to catch a tan, have some food or sip on a spirit.
    Carlos Rico, San Diego Union-Tribune, 8 Sep. 2023
  • The lipstick red works really nice on my skin with a deep tan.
    Alexis Bennett, Vogue, 1 Aug. 2022
  • This tan and baby blue one can even be bought with a matching sweater skirt.
    Brittany Natale, Redbook, 17 Aug. 2023
  • Choose from neutrals like white, gray, and tan, or opt for more vivid solids like mint green and lavender.
    Jamie Allison Sanders, Peoplemag, 7 Mar. 2024
  • Your tan will develop on its own over four to eight hours and can be used as is – no fuss, all glow.
    Alyssa Brascia, Peoplemag, 24 Aug. 2022
  • The truck's 125-hp V-6 puts some people off, but a few of us like the idea of getting a nice tan while driving to Home Depot.
    Tony Quiroga, Car and Driver, 23 Apr. 2021
  • In this instance, the car was light beige with a dark tan interior.
    Vern Parker, Houston Chronicle, 31 Jan. 2020
  • Gyllenhaal, 43, rocked a tweed-style tan suit over a crisp white shirt and burgundy tie.
    Jen Juneau, Peoplemag, 15 Mar. 2024
  • Kennedy paired his tan with a blue suit, offering a nice contrast on black and white TVs.
    Ashley Thomas, Star Tribune, 26 Sep. 2020
  • His father, wearing a tan suit, is laughing in the background.
    Jonathan Blitzer, The New Yorker, 17 Feb. 2024

Some of these examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'tan.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

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