Sunshine

'sʌnʃaɪn

nounBeginner📊CommonGeneral
2 meanings2 idioms/phrases3 questions

Definitions

2 meanings
1

The direct rays and light from the sun.

'sʌnʃaɪn

nounpositiveBeginner
General

The light and warmth that come from the sun.

The children played happily in the sunshine.

💡 Simply: Imagine you're outside on a beautiful day. Sunshine is the warm, bright light from the sun that makes you feel happy. Like when you're at the park and everything looks so cheerful!

👶 For kids: Sunshine is when the sun is shining and it's bright and warm outside!

More Examples

2

The room was filled with sunshine.

3

I love to feel the sunshine on my skin.

How It's Used

General usage

"We enjoyed the sunshine on the beach."

Weather

"The forecast predicts sunshine for the weekend."

2

A metaphor for happiness, joy, or a positive influence.

'sʌnʃaɪn

nounpositiveBeginner
General

Happiness, cheerfulness, or positivity.

Her smile was a ray of sunshine on a cloudy day.

💡 Simply: Sunshine can also mean being super happy and making other people happy! Like that friend who always makes you laugh and brightens your day.

👶 For kids: Sunshine can also mean being really happy and making other people happy!

More Examples

2

He brought sunshine into her life.

3

The band's music provided a moment of sunshine.

How It's Used

Figurative

"Her infectious laughter brought sunshine to the room."

Emotion

"She is a ray of sunshine."

Tip:Think of someone's cheerful personality as bright as the sun.

Idioms & expressions

a ray of sunshine

A person or thing that brings happiness or cheerfulness.

"She's always smiling; she's a real ray of sunshine."

chase the sunshine

To seek out or follow the sun, often when traveling to warmer or sunnier climates.

"During winter, we chase the sunshine by traveling to the Caribbean."

From Middle English sunneshine, equivalent to sun +‎ shine. The word has existed in English since at least the 14th century.

The term has been used in various forms of literature and poetry since its early usage, often to symbolize happiness and positivity.

Memory tip

Think of the bright, warm feeling you get when you stand in the sun.

Word Origin

LanguageOld English
Original meaning

"sun + shine (meaning light or radiance)"

bright sunshinewarm sunshinedirect sunshinebursts of sunshinea ray of sunshine

Common misspellings

sun shinesunshines

Usage

60%Spoken
40%Written