plural shades
1
a
: comparative darkness or obscurity produced when something blocks the light of the sun
The buildings cast shade on the plaza.
b
: relative obscurity or retirement
This convention is so taken with [Sarah] Palin that even [presidential Republican candidate John] McCain occasionally seems cast in the shade.—
William March and Billy House
William March and Billy House2
: shelter (as by foliage) from the heat and glare of sunlight
The tree provides plenty of shade.
also
: a place sheltered from the sun
found a seat in the shade
3
: a lingering image of something passing away : something that has become reduced almost to nothing
Our waterways are very much alive, but most have been reduced to a shade of their former glory.—Michael Pollock
Michael Pollock4
shades plural
a
chiefly literary
: the shadows that gather as darkness comes on : the growing darkness after sunset
… they were enveloped in the shades of night which they had no candle to disperse.—Thomas Hardy
Thomas Hardy
b
archaic
: netherworld, hades
Your obligations to me, Sir, are not to cease with my life. They continue even beyond the grave … my being your zealous apologist in the shades.—Sarah Churchill
Sarah Churchill5
a
: a disembodied spirit : ghost
… the shade of Eurydice struggles frantically to follow Orpheus beyond the river of the dead.—David Cairns
David Cairns
b
—used to signal the similarity between a previously encountered person or situation and one at hand —usually used in plural
shades of my childhood
… an otherworldliness that bears shades of Toni Morrison's magical realism.—Arifa Akbar
Arifa Akbar6
: something that intercepts or shelters from light, sun, or heat: such as
a
: a device partially covering a lamp so as to reduce glare : lampshade
a lamp with a broken shade
b
: a flexible screen usually mounted on a roller for regulating the light or the view through a window see also window shade
c
7
a
: the reproduction of the effect of shade in painting or drawing
a landscape with contrasting areas of light and shade
b
: a subdued or somber feature (as of a work of art)
The lights and shades of the work were captured by the pianist.
8
a
: a color produced by a pigment or dye mixture having some black in it
b
: a color slightly different from the one under consideration
a bright shade of blue
9
a
: a minute difference or variation : nuance
a word with many shades of meaning
b
: a minute degree or quantity
She was just a shade taller than her father.
10
: a facial expression of sadness or displeasure
A shade of annoyance passed over the escort's face.—W. E. B. Du Bois
W. E. B. Du Bois11
informal
: contempt or disrespect for someone or something expressed especially in an indirect or subtle way
… appeared to cast shade at the video app without mentioning it by name …—Miles Klee
Miles Klee… Mia's Twitter shade only came after Karen took a shot of her own …—Brice Sander
Brice SanderNow she used her set at the … festival to address her haters with some subtle shade …—Njera Perkins
Njera PerkinsNo shade, but horror movies are not my thing.—@hyenasandgin, on X, formerly Twitter
see also throw shade
@hyenasandgin, on X, formerly Twitter
shaded; shading
1
a
: to shelter or screen by intercepting radiated light or heat
b
: to cover with a shade
2
: to hide partly by or as if by a shadow
3
: to darken with or as if with a shadow
4
: to better or exceed by a shade
5
6
: to change by gradual transition or qualification
7
: to reduce slightly
shade a price
1
: to pass by slight changes or imperceptible degrees
2
: to undergo or exhibit minute difference or variation
shader
noun
Synonyms
Examples of shade in a Sentence
Noun
The buildings cast shade on the plaza.
The tree provided plenty of shade.
These plants grow well in shade.
It was a hot sunny day, but luckily their seats for the game were in the shade.
We sat in the shade of a willow tree.
He used his hand as a shade as he looked out into the bright sunlight.
a lamp with a broken shade
She pulled down the shades.
She was wearing a cool pair of shades.
Verb
Several large trees shade the house.
She shaded the drawing to give it depth.
The shaded part of the graph represents the amount of sales.
The article shaded the truth by revealing only one side of the story.
Recent Examples on the Web
Beatrice Zocchi, Vogue, 5 Nov. 2024
Take cheddar, for instance — it can be found in both shades.
—Vox Staff, Vox, 5 Nov. 2024
Esther Kang, People.com, 31 Oct. 2024
For long-term problem solving, plant trees that will grow to shade the south and west sides of a house.
—Jalen Williams, Detroit Free Press, 31 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for shade 
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.
Send us feedback.
Noun
The easiest way to play with berry makeup is to do so by tinting the lips in rich grape and raspberry shades.
—Beatrice Zocchi, Vogue, 5 Nov. 2024
Take cheddar, for instance — it can be found in both shades.
—Vox Staff, Vox, 5 Nov. 2024
Verb
Henrie's move to block Benson came after the OnlyFans creator tweeted a graphic response to an interview where Henrie seemingly shaded him for his career choices in the adult entertainment industry.
—Esther Kang, People.com, 31 Oct. 2024
For long-term problem solving, plant trees that will grow to shade the south and west sides of a house.
—Jalen Williams, Detroit Free Press, 31 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for shade
Dictionary Entries Near shade
Cite this Entry
“Shade.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/shade. Accessed 22 Nov. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
shade
1 of 2 noun1
: partial darkness
the trees cast shade
2
: space sheltered from the heat and bright light of the sun
sit in the shade of a tree
3
plural
: the shadows that gather as darkness falls
the shades of night
5
: something that blocks off or cuts down light, sun, or heat
a lamp shade
a window shade
6
: the darkening of some objects in a painting or drawing to suggest that they are in shade
7
: the darkness or lightness of a color
four shades of brown
8
: a very small difference or amount
just a shade taller
shades of meaning
shade
2 of 2 verb
shaded; shading
1
: to shelter from light or heat
2
: to mark with changes of light or color
shade a drawing
3
: to show or begin to have slight differences of color, value, or meaning
shader
noun
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