1
a
often capitalized
: the luminous celestial body around which the earth and other planets revolve, from which they receive heat and light, which is composed mainly of hydrogen and helium, and which has a mean distance from earth of about 93,000,000 miles (150,000,000 kilometers), a linear diameter of 864,000 miles (1,390,000 kilometers), and a mass 332,000 times greater than earth
b
: a celestial body like the sun : star
2
: the heat or light radiated from the sun
played in the sun all day
3
: one resembling the sun (as in warmth or brilliance)
4
: the rising or setting of the sun
from sun to sun
sunned; sunning
: to expose to or as if to the rays of the sun
: to sun oneself
Sunday
Synonyms
Examples of sun in a Sentence
Noun
The rain has stopped and the sun is shining.
The sun rises in the east and sets in the west.
the warmth of the sun's rays
They dream of traveling to distant suns.
Try to keep out of the sun.
The cat lay basking in the sun.
Verb
People sunned themselves on the hillside.
Recent Examples on the Web
Joe Arterburn, Outdoor Life, 14 Nov. 2024
Throughout its mission, Parker has moved closer to the sun.
—Mary Kekatos, ABC News, 5 Nov. 2024
Shaun Stanley, Travel + Leisure, 5 Nov. 2024
Intervals of clouds and sun with a couple of showers; breezy and cooler.
—Elizabeth B. Kim, The Enquirer, 15 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for sun 
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Noun
Play the Sun In a perfect scenario, your decoys will be in the sun (so ducks can see them well) and your hide will be in the shadows.
—Joe Arterburn, Outdoor Life, 14 Nov. 2024
Throughout its mission, Parker has moved closer to the sun.
—Mary Kekatos, ABC News, 5 Nov. 2024
Verb
Nile crocodiles sun themselves on the river banks, while pods of hippos and herds of elephants roam through the waters.
—Shaun Stanley, Travel + Leisure, 5 Nov. 2024
Intervals of clouds and sun with a couple of showers; breezy and cooler.
—Elizabeth B. Kim, The Enquirer, 15 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for sun
Dictionary Entries Near sun
Cite this Entry
“Sun.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sun. Accessed 22 Nov. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
sun
1 of 2 noun1
a
: the star around which the planets revolve, from which they receive heat and light, and which has an average distance from the earth of about 93,000,000 miles (150,000,000 kilometers), a diameter of 864,000 miles (1,390,000 kilometers), and a mass 332,000 times greater than earth
b
: a star like the sun
2
: the heat or light given off by the sun : sunshine
3
: one resembling the sun usually in brilliance
4
: the rising or setting of the sun
from sun to sun
sun
2 of 2 verb
sunned; sunning
1
: to expose to or as if to the rays of the sun
2
: to sun oneself
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