sunshine

[suhn-shahyn]

noun

1. the shining of the sun; direct light of the sun.

2. brightness or radiance; cheerfulness or happiness.

3. a source of cheer or happiness.

4. the effect of the sun in lighting and heating a place.

5. a place where the direct rays of the sun fall.

adjective

1. of or relating to sunshine laws.

   sunshine rules.

2. fair-weather.

sunshine

/ ˈsʌnˌʃaɪn /

noun

1. the light received directly from the sun

2. the warmth from the sun

3. a sunny area

4. a light-hearted or ironic term of address

Other Word Forms

• sunshineless adjective
• sunshiny adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of sunshine¹

1200–50; Middle English sunnesin; sun, shine ¹

Example Sentences

Hundreds of people stood in the autumn sunshine waiting for the ceremony to begin.

Read more on BBC

Typically, the follow-up to a breakout success from an East Coast act, the California album finds the artist with a lot more money and sunshine.

Read more on Salon

So far, 2025 has been a period of relative economic sunshine for the RBA, which has welcomed the combination of lower inflation, recovering economic growth and low unemployment.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

"Last season, we did some negative stuff but everything was all sunshine and rainbows everywhere. Now it sounds like we're going to be in a relegation battle - that's how it works in the world."

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Though the sunshine of free speech remains the best antiseptic against poison, Mr. Carlson is more interested in the spotlight than serious debate.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• bulb 
• candle 
• daylight 
• flash 
• glare 
• glow 
• lamp 
• lantern 
• radiation 
• ray 
• star 
• sun 
• window