shine

¹ American  

[shahyn] / ʃaɪn /

verb (used without object)

shone, shined, shining

1. to give forth or glow with light; shed or cast light.

   Synonyms:

   shimmer, glimmer

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

3. (of light) to appear brightly or strongly, especially uncomfortably so.

   Wear dark glasses so the sun won't shine in your eyes.

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

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

6. to excel or be conspicuous.

   to shine in school.

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verb (used with object)

shone, shined, shining

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.

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

   Synonyms:

   brighten, burnish, buff

noun

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

2. luster; polish.

   Synonyms:

   sheen, glow, gleam, gloss

3. sunshine; fair weather.

4. a polish or gloss given to shoes.

5. an act or instance of polishing shoes.

6. Informal. a foolish prank; caper.

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

verb phrase

1. shine up to

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

   2. to become especially attentive to (a potential romantic partner).

      Men shine up to her like moths to a light.

idioms

1. take a shine to, to take a liking or fancy to.

   That little girl has really taken a shine to you.

2. come rain or shine, Also

   1. regardless of the weather.

   2. no matter what the circumstances may be.

      Come rain or shine, he is always on the job.

shine ² American  

[shahyn] / ʃaɪn /

noun

Slang.

1. moonshine.

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shine British  

/ ʃaɪn /

verb

1. (intr) to emit light

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

3. (tr) to direct the light of (a lamp, etc)

   he shone the torch in my eyes

4. (tr; past tense and past participle shined) to cause to gleam by polishing

   to shine shoes

5. (intr) to be conspicuously competent; excel

   she shines at tennis

6. (intr) to appear clearly; be conspicuous

   the truth shone out of his words

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noun

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

2. 1. whatever the weather

   2. regardless of circumstances

3. informal short for moonshine

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

shine More Idioms  

More idioms and phrases containing shine

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

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Related Words

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 Word Forms

• unshined adjective

Etymology

Origin of shine¹

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

Origin of shine²

First recorded in 1935–40; by shortening

Example Sentences

That calm confidence shines through in every performance too, where Siddiq is center stage, standing and/or possibly sitting, relying on lived experience rather than quick punch lines.

From Los Angeles Times

Outside, the sky was blue and the sun was shining again.

From Literature

“Bring your little friends and let’s go down where the sun is shining. They can dry out there and get warm.”

From Literature

True love was for fair princesses and maidens and knights in shining armor.

From Literature

Mr. Bird has history he’d like to forget, but, as Mr. O’Brien notes, he gave so many others memories they’ll always remember, spawning “an afterlife for Indiana State’s one shining moment.”

From The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• beam
• blink
• burn
• dazzle
• flash
• flicker
• glare
• gleam
• glisten
• glitter
• glow
• illuminate
• radiate
• shimmer
• sparkle
• twinkle