Synonyms

tanning

American

[tan-ing] / ˈtæn ɪŋ /

noun

the process or art of converting hides or skins into leather.
a browning or darkening of the skin, as by exposure to the sun.
Informal. a thrashing; whipping.

Other Word Forms

nontanning adjective

Etymology

Origin of tanning

First recorded in 1475–85; tan ¹, + -ing ¹

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.

Tiffany Kahl, who owns a tanning and wellness salon in Pennsylvania, hunts business-class travel deals as a hobby and subscribes to Thrifty Traveler.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 22, 2026

Giant, stainless-steel mixing tanks and vats, on their sides, tanning in the Florida sun.

From Slate • Apr. 20, 2026

Residents and tourists who were out shopping or tanning on the beach of this gleaming business hub of the United Arab Emirates watched with curiosity as missiles were intercepted above them like loud, daytime fireworks.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 4, 2026

The Sunbed Association, which represents half the UK's tanning shops, says the ASA and WHO are using "outdated data", but encourages its members not to use medical claims in advertising.

From BBC • Feb. 11, 2026

"I gave her a tan by pouring on my mom's instant tanning lotion. It made her turn orange. I dyed her hair blond with my mom's hair dye. It made her hair break!"

From "Sleepover Sleuths: Nancy Drew and the Clue Crew, #1" by Carolyn Keene

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023