sunset

American  

[suhn-set] / ˈsʌnˌsɛt /

noun

sunsets plural

1. the setting or descent of the sun below the horizon in the evening.

2. the atmospheric and scenic phenomena accompanying this.

3. the time when the sun sets.

4. the close or final stage of any period.

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adjective

1. (of an industry, technology, etc.) old; declining.

   sunset industries.

2. of, relating to, or characteristic of a sunset law.

   to add sunset restrictions to a bill.

sunset British  

/ ˈsʌnˌsɛt /

noun

1. the daily disappearance of the sun below the horizon

2. the atmospheric phenomena accompanying this disappearance

3. Also called: sundown.  the time at which the sun sets at a particular locality

4. the final stage or closing period, as of a person's life

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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• sunsets
  plural

Etymology

Origin of sunset

Middle English word dating back to 1350–1400; see origin at sun, set

Example Sentences

Billy Wilder’s Sunset Boulevard, the tale of silent film star Norma Desmond’s descent into murderous derangement as her Hollywood comeback stays out of frame, is the other.

From Slate • Jun. 11, 2026

At 14, he convinced his mother to let him do stand-up at the Comedy Store on Sunset Boulevard.

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 8, 2026

“Set high above the Sunset Strip with sweeping panoramic views, this iconic estate presents a rare opportunity to reimagine and build something truly remarkable in one of Los Angeles’ most coveted enclaves.”

From MarketWatch • Jun. 3, 2026

With that done, I made my way up to Sunset Boulevard, which is loud and unshaded and not nearly as pleasant a place to walk as some of West Hollywood’s more green and leafy streets.

From Los Angeles Times • May 27, 2026

Someone in Sunset Towers had stolen the shorthand notebook.

From "The Westing Game" by Ellen Raskin

Related Words

• dusk
• nightfall
• sundown
• twilight