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Synonyms

sunshine

American  
[suhn-shahyn] / ˈsʌnˌʃaɪn /

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 British  
/ 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

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Word Forms

  • sunshineless adjective
  • sunshiny adjective

Etymology

Origin of sunshine

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

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."

Keep Reading on Vocabulary.com

Vocabulary lists containing sunshine

Yellow

Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!

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.

And since my game is retirement, you should not be surprised that this ray of sunshine comes from Social Security.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 28, 2026

Foggy skies have shrouded parts of Tyne and Wear, while Cumbria and County Durham basked in sunshine.

From BBC • Apr. 26, 2026

In terms of quality of life, Stephens says people are attracted to the state’s sunshine, improving public and private schools, and relatively new infrastructure.

From Barron's • Apr. 20, 2026

You can be a normal person who simply wants to watch a game in the sunshine while eating a pretzel and drinking a beer.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 17, 2026

I pray the sunshine in Cuba will allow a little flower to grow in me.

From "Across So Many Seas" by Ruth Behar

Definitions 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.