sunset
Americannoun
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sunsets
plural
adjective
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(of an industry, technology, etc.) old; declining.
sunset industries.
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of, relating to, or characteristic of a sunset law.
to add sunset restrictions to a bill.
noun
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the daily disappearance of the sun below the horizon
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the atmospheric phenomena accompanying this disappearance
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Also called: sundown. the time at which the sun sets at a particular locality
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the final stage or closing period, as of a person's life
Other Word Forms
Noun Inflected Forms
Etymology
Origin of sunset
Middle English word dating back to 1350–1400; see origin at sun, set
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
The South Common, Lincoln: A sunset dance will be taking place on the open green space on the southeastern boundary of Lincoln.
From BBC ● Aug. 12, 2026
For observers in Spain, the total eclipse will last under two minutes just before sunset.
From Barron's ● Aug. 11, 2026
Its glacial flatness doesn’t lend itself to crusades, or to impressive scenes like a man on horseback silhouetted against the sunset.
From Salon ● Aug. 9, 2026
It’s the most L.A. thing in the entire world, because you have this beautiful sunset happening at the beach and you’re right there.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 7, 2026
I left before sunset and walked my bike back rather than ride it—anything to stretch out the trip.
From "Hope Springs" by Jaime Berry
With its golden beaches, whitewashed villages, stunning sunsets and ancient history, it’s no surprise that Greece is an increasingly popular destination for sun-loving tourists.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 13, 2026
In San Francisco this year, sunsets at 8 p.m. or later occur from May 1 through Aug. 17.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 22, 2026
The benefit of year-round daylight saving time would be 5:44 p.m. sunsets shortly after Thanksgiving for Los Angeles — a delight for Angelenos unhappy with 4:44 p.m. sunsets as winter approaches.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 22, 2026
The earliest sunrises happen before the summer solstice and the latest sunsets happen after.
From BBC ● Jun. 16, 2026
Because I can count on my fingers the number of sunsets I have left, and I don’t want to miss any of them.
From "Catching Fire" by Suzanne Collins
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
