sunshine
Americannoun
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the shining of the sun; direct light of the sun.
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brightness or radiance; cheerfulness or happiness.
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a source of cheer or happiness.
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the effect of the sun in lighting and heating a place.
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a place where the direct rays of the sun fall.
adjective
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of or relating to sunshine laws.
sunshine rules.
noun
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the light received directly from the sun
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the warmth from the sun
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a sunny area
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a light-hearted or ironic term of address
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of sunshine
Explanation
Sunshine is the light that comes from the sun. On a clear, cloudless spring day, you can go outside and enjoy the sunshine. Scientifically, sunshine or sunlight is the radiation that the sun gives off. You can describe any light or warmth you observe from the sun as sunshine: "Look at the sunshine sparkling on the lake this morning!" Figuratively, the word is also used for cheerfulness, warmth, and happiness: "It's all sunshine and sing-alongs in the kindergarten classroom, but fourth grade is totally different."
Vocabulary lists containing sunshine
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.
There’s one ray of sunshine in the survey.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 14, 2026
Elsewhere there will be some scattered showers but many places in the south should see some lengthy dry spells with sunshine, and temperatures average for October.
From BBC ● Oct. 9, 2026
But Sunday looks calmer with sunshine in the north and east and rain creeping into the south and west.
From BBC ● Oct. 9, 2026
The noise built through the warm-ups, in the tunnel and during the anthems, until, finally, Haaland emerged into the blazing sunshine and took a long blue-eyed stare across the pitch at the five-time world champions.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 8, 2026
The room was still icy cold despite the bright spring sunshine that streamed in through the window.
From "Ophie's Ghosts" by Justina Ireland
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Get a wordDefinitions 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.
