sunshine

plural sunshines · alternative archaic sun-shine

1. uncountableusuallyThe direct rays, light or warmth of the sun.

   We were warmed by the bright sunshine.

   5 more examples

   Oft tymes a thinge doth floꝛiſh, and men thynke that it maye abyde the Sonneſhyne: it ſhuteth foꝛth the bꝛaunches in his garden, it taketh many rotes, in ſo moch that it is like an houſe off ſtones.

   1535 October 14 (Gregorian calendar), Myles Coverdale, transl., Biblia: The Byble, […] (Coverdale Bible), [Cologne or Marburg]: [Eucharius Cervicornus and Johannes Soter?], →OCLC, Job viij:[16–17], folio iij, verso, column 1

   And all the ſhrubs, vvith ſparkling ſpangles, ſhevv / Like Morning-Sun-ſhine tinsilling the devv.

   1648, Robert Herrick, “The Apparition of His Mistresse Calling Him to Elizium”, in Hesperides: Or, The Works both Humane & Divine […], London: […] John Williams, and Francis Eglesfield, and are to be sold by Tho[mas] Hunt, […], →OCLC, page 240

   Sunshine, everybody loves the sunshine / Sunshine, folks get down in the sunshine / Sunshine, folks get brown in the sunshine

   1976, “Everybody Loves the Sunshine”, performed by Roy Ayers Ubiquity

   If there was no sunshine / Then life on Earth would not survive / Just like I would surely die / Without your love

   1977, Keith Barrow, “Precious”, in Keith Barrow

   Spring was the sunniest season, and was the sunniest spring on record. It was the season with the fourth most sunshine on record, beaten by three summers: 1911, 1976 and 1995. Summer was then sunnier than average.

   2025 December 17, Helena Horton, “2025 is UK’s sunniest year on record, boosting solar power”, in The Guardian, archived from the original on 21 Mar 2026

   Synonyms: sun, sunlight

2. uncountableusuallyA location on which the sun's rays fall.

   We moved out of the shade and into the sunshine.

   1 more example

   Out again into the sunshine by the wide mouth of the Green River, as the chart named the brook whose level stream scarce moved into the lake. A streak of blue shot up it between the banks, and a shrill pipe came back as the kingfisher hastened away.

   1879, R[ichard] J[efferies], chapter II, in The Amateur Poacher, London: Smith, Elder, & Co., […], →OCLC

3. figurativelyuncountableusuallyGeniality or cheerfulness.

   I enjoyed the sunshine of her smile.

   1 more example

   Ain't no sunshine when she's gone / Only darkness every day

   1971, Bill Withers, “Ain't No Sunshine”

4. figurativelyuncountableusuallyA source of cheerfulness or joy.

   You are the sunshine of my life / That's why I'll always be around / You are the apple of my eye / Forever you'll stay in my heart

   1972, Stevie Wonder, “You Are the Sunshine of My Life”, in Talking Book

5. uncountableusuallyThe effect which the sun has when it lights and warms some place.
6. IrelandUKuncountableusuallyA friendly form of address often reserved for juniors.

   Alright, sunshine, safe to cross now.

7. IrelandUKuncountableusuallyAn ironic form of address directed toward someone perceived as inferior or troublesome.

   OK, sunshine, listen up and listen good. There's five vandalised telephone boxes out there and I know you're responsible.

8. humorousuncountableusuallyUsed to address someone who has just woken up or is very sleepy.

   Good morning, sunshine!

9. abbreviationellipsisslanguncommonuncountableusuallyEllipsis of orange sunshine.

alternative archaic sun-shine

1. USnot comparableOpen to and permitting public access, especially with regard to activities that were previously closed-door or back-room meetings.

   Because of the sunshine law, we could go to the planning meeting.

plural Sunshines

1. A surname.
2. A suburb of Newcastle in the Lake Macquarie council area, New South Wales, Australia.
3. A suburb of Melbourne in the City of Brimbank, Victoria, Australia