Skip to main content
sunshine

sunshine

176 1.0
A cheerful feeling from a person that makes others feel happier
  • noun
  • /ˈsʌnˌʃaɪn/
: alegría
  • "You may be the sunshine we've been waiting for," he said.
  • Good morning, sunshine
  • a ray of sunshine
  • bring sunshine

It was all good stuff, but off camera it wasn't all sunshine and rainbow Dory.

Autoplay Next

Examples

  • You are my sunshine on a rainy day.

  • Sounds like you two may have some sunshine in your future.

  • Oh, you are my sunshine, my little sunshine.

  • You are my sunshine, my only sunshine.

  • You are my sunshine, my happy sunshine.

  • Good morning, you little ray o' sunshine, you!

  • When Sally entered a room, she brought the sunshine with her.

    Fiction book (1995)
  • You've brought a lot of sunshine into my life

  • There was one glimmer of sunshine in my day.

    Fiction book (2001)
  • Her cheerful personality brings a lot of sunshine into our lives.

Synonyms

joy
vssunshine
105 1.0

A person or thing that brings happiness to others

is the underlying warm quality that lifts spirits quietly
cheer
vssunshine
68 1.0

A feeling of happiness that makes people less sad

is the quality that specifically dispels gloom rather than general uplift
positive energy
vssunshine
  • Informal
15 3.5

A hopeful, friendly feeling that makes people feel happy and active

is a simple, personal warmth that eases gloom
high spirits
vssunshine
15 3.2

A strong feeling of being very happy and excited

is the calmer, gentle quality that disperses sadness
ray of sunshine
vssunshine
  • Informal
12 3.2

A person who makes others feel happy

is the emotional quality that produces that joyful effect
lightness
vssunshine
9 3.5

A cheerful, carefree feeling that makes people relaxed

is specifically the warmth that chases away gloom
vibrancy
vssunshine
7 4.6

A strong, lively energy and brightness in people, places, or things

is specifically a gentle cheer that removes sadness
cheerfulness
vssunshine
4 1.0

A happy mood that makes you smile and helps others feel good

emphasizes easing gloom as its main effect
sweetness and light
vssunshine
  • Informal
3 6.0

A cheerful and friendly feeling among people

is the core cheerful quality that actively lifts spirits
ebullience
vssunshine
1 8.5

A feeling of cheerful, lively energy that people show

is milder, aiming to brighten mood rather than burst energy
cheeriness
vssunshine
1 1.6

A feeling of happiness and energy that makes others feel hopeful

is more about directly brightening others rather than just liveliness
joyfulness
vssunshine
1 2.0

A strong feeling of happiness and excitement

is more about easing gloom than intense joyful feeling
lightheartedness
vssunshine
1 4.8

A cheerful, carefree feeling that makes people relax

acts more as a spirit-lifting quality rather than casual ease
brightener
vssunshine
  • Informal
1 3.5

A person or thing that makes people feel happier

is the inner quality that causes that brightening effect
sanguinity
vssunshine
  • Formal
1 8.5

A cheerful, confident feeling about the future

is more about immediate warmth that dispels present gloom
sunniness
vssunshine
1 2.4

A cheerful, positive way of behaving that makes others feel happy

works more as a comforting quality that dispels gloom
1 2.3

A friendly, happy way of acting that makes others feel better

is the warm quality that brightens mood and dispels gloom
barrel of sunshine
vssunshine
  • Informal
1 5.0

A person or thing that brings joy and warmth to others

is the quieter, steady cheer that lifts spirits over time
lighthearted mood
vssunshine
1 3.7

A happy relaxed feeling when people laugh and joke

is a personal quality that actively lifts individual spirits
lightsomeness
vssunshine
  • Literature
9.8

A cheerful, carefree feeling that makes life seem easier

focuses more on lifting spirits and removing gloom
bucket of sunshine
vssunshine
  • Informal
6.0

A person or thing that brings a lot of joy

is the gentle quality that removes gloom rather than grand joy

Antonyms

228 1.0

A feeling of being unhappy

19 3.6

Low light or darkness that makes a place feel sad

Idioms

4 8.1

To feel very happy and excited

Compounds

ray of sunshine
  • Informal
12 3.2

A person who makes others feel happy

11 3.0

A nickname for the United States state of Florida because it has warm sunny weather

1 5.0

A person or thing that brings joy and warmth to others

6.0

A person or thing that brings a lot of joy

6.0

A panel in a car roof that opens to let in air and sunlight

How Cheerful

joy
815 1.0
exuberance
27 6.7
sunshine
176 1.0
brightness
39 1.0

Surface Forms

sunshine singular
sunshines plural

Morphology

sunshine = sun + shine (semi-transparent) = sun + shine

The figurative sense extends the literal idea of sunlight to a cheerful quality, so the relation to the bases is clear but metaphorical.

Etymology

Sunshine comes from the image of the sun's light: sun and shine, where shine means 'to give light'. That's why sunshine also describes a cheerful, warm quality that 'brightens' people's feelings.