sunny

12 synonyms and 3 antonyms for sunny, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.

Adj — Bright with sunshine; having clear, sunlit weather.

Synonyms

Everyday swaps

Common words most readers know — safe in any writing.

bright gay

Less common

Still standard English, but they carry more weight.

radiant optimistic upbeat cheerful

Rare, literary or technical

Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.

cloudless buoyant genial cheery sunshiny sunlit

Synonyms by Meaning

1. adj

Bright with sunshine; having clear, sunlit weather.

“We hung the washing out because the morning was warm and sunny.”

cloudless radiant optimistic upbeat buoyant genial cheery bright sunshiny sunlit cheerful gay

Opposites

sunless dark

2. adj

Cheerful and optimistic in personality or mood.

“My grandfather has a sunny nature and always finds something to laugh about.”

Opposites

sombre

How to use sunny

The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.

sunny day sunny disposition sunny side up sunny weather

Etymology

From Old English sunnig, formed from sun plus the adjective ending -y.

Full origin of sunny →

Frequently asked questions

What does “sunny” mean?

The word “sunny” means bright with sunshine; having clear, sunlit weather. In plain terms, full of sunshine, or (about a person) cheerful and bright in mood.

How do you pronounce “sunny”?

“Sunny” is pronounced SUH-nee (/ˈsʌni/ in IPA).

How do you use “sunny” in a sentence?

Here is “sunny” used in a sentence: “It was a sunny afternoon, perfect for the beach.”

What is another word for “sunny”?

Words with a similar meaning to “sunny” include bright, sunshiny, sunlit and cheerful.

What part of speech is “sunny”?

“Sunny” is an adjective.

Where does the word “sunny” come from?

The word “sunny” comes from Old English. From Old English sunnig, formed from sun plus the adjective ending -y.

Is “sunny” a common word?

“Sunny” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the A1 level.

How many meanings does “sunny” have?

“Sunny” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: bright with sunshine; having clear, sunlit weather.

What is the difference between sunny and clear in weather forecasts?

Forecasters generally use sunny for daytime weather with plenty of sunshine and few clouds, while clear describes a cloud-free sky and is the usual word for night-time conditions. Terms like "mostly sunny" and "partly cloudy" indicate how much cloud is expected.

What are the comparative and superlative forms of sunny?

The comparative is sunnier and the superlative is sunniest: the final y changes to i before the endings, following the regular pattern for adjectives ending in a consonant plus y. For example, "July was sunnier than June, and August was the sunniest month of all."

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dark Gay bright optimistic cheerful upbeat radiant sunless sombre genial buoyant cheery

Nearby words

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