1
: to emit rays of light
2
: to be bright by reflection of light
3
a
: to be eminent, conspicuous, or distinguished
shines in math
b
: to perform extremely well
when will stocks really shine again?—
Temma Ehrenfeld
Temma Ehrenfeld4
: to have a bright glowing appearance
his face shone with enthusiasm
5
: to be conspicuously evident or clear
1
a
: to cause to emit light
b
: to throw or direct the light of
2
past tense and past participle shined
: to make bright by polishing
shined his shoes
1
: brightness caused by the emission of light
2
: brightness caused by the reflection of light : luster
the shine of polished silver
3
: brilliance, splendor
still has a shine about her
4
: fair weather : sunshine
rain or shine
7
a
: a polish or gloss given to shoes
b
: a single polishing of a pair of shoes
Examples of shine in a Sentence
Verb
The sun was shining through the clouds.
lamps shining from the windows
She found a sport where she can really shine.
Noun
the shine of polished silver
He had a nice shine on his shoes.
Would you like a shine?
Recent Examples on the Web
Anthony Wood, Space.com, 24 Oct. 2025
Reality Check is a Star series holding those with power to account and shining a light on their decisions.
—Judy L. Thomas, Kansas City Star, 24 Oct. 2025
Alexandra Emanuelli, Southern Living, 26 Aug. 2025
The brand has always championed all skin tones and types with hydrating foundations and high shine lipsticks.
—Larry Stansbury, Essence, 26 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for shine
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
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Verb
The nebula has been observed shining in radio, X-ray and visible light, as the cloud of stellar material pushed outward by a supernova explosion 10,000 years ago comes into contact with the mass of interstellar gas beyond.
—Anthony Wood, Space.com, 24 Oct. 2025
Reality Check is a Star series holding those with power to account and shining a light on their decisions.
—Judy L. Thomas, Kansas City Star, 24 Oct. 2025
Noun
This gel moisturizer, however, absorbs fast, wears beautifully under makeup or sunscreen, and leaves skin soft without any unappealing shine.
—Alexandra Emanuelli, Southern Living, 26 Aug. 2025
The brand has always championed all skin tones and types with hydrating foundations and high shine lipsticks.
—Larry Stansbury, Essence, 26 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for shine
Cite this Entry
“Shine.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/shine. Accessed 31 Oct. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
shine
1 of 2 verb
shone
ˈshōn 
or shined; shining
or shined; shining
1
: to give light
the stars shone brightly
2
: to be glossy : gleam
polished the buttons until they shone like gold
3
: to be outstanding : show talent
on stage where I could really shine
4
: to cause to give light
shine a flashlight
5
: to make bright by polishing
shined my shoes
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