shine

1
[ shahyn ]
See synonyms for: shineshinesshiningshone on Thesaurus.com

verb (used without object),shone [shohn; especially British shon] /ʃoʊn; especially British ʃɒn/ or shined, shin·ing [shahy-ning]. /ˈʃaɪ nɪŋ/.
  1. to give forth or glow with light; shed or cast light.

  2. to be bright with reflected light; glisten; sparkle.

  1. (of light) to appear brightly or strongly, especially uncomfortably so: Wear dark glasses so the sun won't shine in your eyes.

  2. to be or appear unusually animated or bright, as the eyes or face.

  3. to appear with brightness or clearness, as feelings.

  4. to excel or be conspicuous: to shine in school.

verb (used with object),shone [shohn; especially British shon] /ʃoʊn; especially British ʃɒn/ or shined, shin·ing [shahy-ning]. /ˈʃaɪ nɪŋ/.
  1. to cause to shine.

  2. to direct the light of (a lamp, mirror, etc.): Shine the flashlight on the steps so I can see.

  1. to put a gloss or polish on; polish (as shoes, silverware, etc.).

noun
  1. radiance or brightness caused by emitted or reflected light.

  1. sunshine; fair weather.

  2. a polish or gloss given to shoes.

  3. an act or instance of polishing shoes.

  4. Informal. a foolish prank; caper.

  5. Slang: Extremely Disparaging and Offensive. a contemptuous term used to refer to a Black person.

Verb Phrasespast and past participle shone [shohn; especially British shon] /ʃoʊn; especially British ʃɒn/ or shined;present participle shin·ing [shahy-ning]. /ˈʃaɪ nɪŋ/.
  1. shine up to, Informal.

    • to attempt to impress (a person), especially in order to gain benefits for oneself.

    • to become especially attentive to (a potential romantic partner): Men shine up to her like moths to a light.

Idioms about shine

  1. come rain or shine, : Also rain or shine .

    • regardless of the weather.

    • no matter what the circumstances may be: Come rain or shine, he is always on the job.

  2. take a shine to, Informal. to take a liking or fancy to: That little girl has really taken a shine to you.

Origin of shine

1
First recorded before 900; Middle English verb shinen, shinnen, Old English scīnan; cognate with Dutch schijnen, German scheinen, Old Norse skīna, Gothic skeinan

synonym study For shine

1. Shine, beam, glare refer to the emitting or reflecting of light. Shine refers to a steady glowing or reflecting of light: to shine in the sun. That which beams gives forth a radiant or bright light: to beam like a star. Glare refers to the shining of a light that is not only bright but so strong as to be unpleasant and dazzling: to glare like a headlight.

Other words for shine

Other words from shine

  • un·shined, adjective

Words Nearby shine

Other definitions for shine (2 of 2)

shine2
[ shahyn ]

nounSlang.

Origin of shine

2
First recorded in 1935–40; by shortening

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use shine in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for shine

shine

/ (ʃaɪn) /


verbshines, shining or shone
  1. (intr) to emit light

  2. (intr) to glow or be bright with reflected light

  1. (tr) to direct the light of (a lamp, etc): he shone the torch in my eyes

  2. (tr; past tense and past participle shined) to cause to gleam by polishing: to shine shoes

  3. (intr) to be conspicuously competent; excel: she shines at tennis

  4. (intr) to appear clearly; be conspicuous: the truth shone out of his words

noun
  1. the state or quality of shining; sheen; lustre

  2. rain or shine or come rain or shine

    • whatever the weather

    • regardless of circumstances

  1. informal short for moonshine (def. 2)

  2. informal a liking or fancy (esp in the phrase take a shine to)

Origin of shine

1
Old English scīnan; related to Old Norse skīna, Gothic skeinan, Old High German scīnan to shine, Greek skia shadow

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Idioms and Phrases with shine

shine

In addition to the idiom beginning with shine

  • shine up to

also see:

  • make hay while the sun shines
  • rain or shine
  • rise and shine
  • take a fancy (shine) to

The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.