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Synonyms

shine

1 American  
[shahyn] / ʃaɪn /

verb (used without object)

shone, shined, shining

  1. to give forth or glow with light; shed or cast light.

    Synonyms:
    shimmer, glimmer

  2. to be bright with reflected light; glisten; sparkle.

  3. (of light) to appear brightly or strongly, especially uncomfortably so.

    Wear dark glasses so the sun won't shine in your eyes.

  4. to be or appear unusually animated or bright, as the eyes or face.

  5. to appear with brightness or clearness, as feelings.

  6. to excel or be conspicuous.

    to shine in school.

verb (used with object)

shone, shined, shining

  1. to cause to shine.

  2. to direct the light of (a lamp, mirror, etc.).

    Shine the flashlight on the steps so I can see.

  3. to put a gloss or polish on; polish (as shoes, silverware, etc.).

    Synonyms:
    brighten, burnish, buff

noun

  1. radiance or brightness caused by emitted or reflected light.

  2. luster; polish.

    Synonyms:
    sheen, glow, gleam, gloss

  3. sunshine; fair weather.

  4. a polish or gloss given to shoes.

  5. an act or instance of polishing shoes.

  6. Informal. a foolish prank; caper.

  7. Slang: Extremely Disparaging and Offensive. a contemptuous term used to refer to a Black person.

verb phrase

  1. shine up to

    1. to attempt to impress (a person), especially in order to gain benefits for oneself.

    2. to become especially attentive to (a potential romantic partner).

      Men shine up to her like moths to a light.

idioms

  1. take a shine to, to take a liking or fancy to.

    That little girl has really taken a shine to you.

  2. come rain or shine, Also

    1. regardless of the weather.

    2. no matter what the circumstances may be.

      Come rain or shine, he is always on the job.
shine 2 American  
[shahyn] / ʃaɪn /

noun

Slang.

  1. moonshine.

shine British  
/ ʃaɪn /

verb

  1. (intr) to emit light

  2. (intr) to glow or be bright with reflected light

  3. (tr) to direct the light of (a lamp, etc)

    he shone the torch in my eyes

  4. (tr; past tense and past participle shined) to cause to gleam by polishing

    to shine shoes

  5. (intr) to be conspicuously competent; excel

    she shines at tennis

  6. (intr) to appear clearly; be conspicuous

    the truth shone out of his words
"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

noun

  1. the state or quality of shining; sheen; lustre

    1. whatever the weather

    2. regardless of circumstances

  3. informal short for moonshine

  4. informal a liking or fancy (esp in the phrase take a shine to )

"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
shine More Idioms  

    More idioms and phrases containing shine

Related Words

Shine, beam, glare refer to the emitting or reflecting of light. Shine refers to a steady glowing or reflecting of light: to shine in the sun. That which beams gives forth a radiant or bright light: to beam like a star. Glare refers to the shining of a light that is not only bright but so strong as to be unpleasant and dazzling: to glare like a headlight.

Other Word Forms

  • unshined adjective

Etymology

Origin of shine1

First recorded before 900; Middle English verb shinen, shinnen, Old English scīnan; cognate with Dutch schijnen, German scheinen, Old Norse skīna, Gothic skeinan

Origin of shine2

First recorded in 1935–40; by shortening

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.

We appreciate the Journal’s commitment to shining a light on transnational repression—especially China’s efforts to force silence, distort public debate and pressure U.S. policy.

From The Wall Street Journal

“She did give me the wrong number. That rubbed the shine off.”

From Literature

The mountain’s medics hurried to check her pulse and shine lights into her eyes.

From Literature

In their Chem study, the team identified a surprisingly simple method for directing crystal formation: shining light on the system.

From Science Daily

Last year, Lawson was given a chance to shine but the New Zealander was dropped back down to Racing Bulls after only two races and was swapped with Tsunoda.

From BBC

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.