shines

NOUN

brightness; polish

Synonyms

STRONGEST

gleam glitz gloss luster sheen shimmer sparkle

STRONG

flash glare glaze glint lambency light luminosity patina radiance rub show

Antonyms

STRONGEST

darkness dullness

STRONG

dark

VERB

give off or reflect light

Synonyms

STRONGEST

beam blink burn dazzle flash flicker glare gleam glisten glitter glow illuminate radiate shimmer sparkle twinkle

STRONG

bedazzle blaze deflect flare glimmer illumine incandesce irradiate luminesce mirror scintillate

WEAK

emit light give light

Antonyms

STRONGEST

darken dull

VERB

polish, burnish

Synonyms

STRONGEST

rub

STRONG

brush buff finish furbish glance glaze gloss scour sleek wax

WEAK

buff up give a sheen make brilliant put a finish on put a gloss on

Antonyms

WEAK

dull

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.

The Sun always shines in space and can’t be blocked by clouds.

From Science Daily • Jun. 19, 2026

However, it also raises troubling questions for the booming high-altitude tourism industry, and shines a spotlight on the deadly risks Sherpas who work on Mount Everest face.

From BBC • Jun. 10, 2026

North Korea now shines roughly three times as bright at night as it did five years ago, according to another report.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 8, 2026

Andy Pages and Shohei Ohtani hit home runs during a dominant first inning and Yoshinobu Yamamoto shines for the Dodgers in a 9-2 win over the Angels.

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 7, 2026

“But the light shines anyway, no matter what.”

From "Caterpillar Summer" by Gillian McDunn