sheer
sheer
Sheer (adjective) means Thin enough to see through. Example: “The curtains were so sheer that sunlight poured straight through them.”
adjective
1
Thin enough to see through.
"The curtains were so sheer that sunlight poured straight through them."
"She bought sheer tights to wear with her black dress."
"She wore a sheer scarf over her shoulders."
2
Complete or absolute, used for emphasis.
"He burst into tears out of sheer relief when the exam ended."
"It was sheer luck that we found a parking space."
"The view from the summit was sheer beauty."
3
Very steep, almost straight up and down.
"The road ran beside a sheer drop down to the sea."
"Mountain goats can walk along sheer cliffs without slipping."
"The climbers faced a sheer rock face for the final stretch."
How to use sheer
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishEither see-through and delicate (fabric), or used to mean "total, complete" for emphasis, or describing a very steep drop.
Common mistake
Don't confuse with "shear" (to cut) — same sound, unrelated meaning.
Easily confused with
Common pairings
sheer curtains
sheer luck
sheer drop
sheer determination
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Word forms
- Plural
- sheers
- Comparative
- sheerer, more sheer
- Superlative
- sheerest, most sheer
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The curtains were so _____ that sunlight poured straight through them.
Etymology
From Old English sċǣre, "pure, clear, shining" — related to an old word family meaning "bright" rather than to "shear."
Synonyms
View more →
utter
pure
absolute
outright
translucent
precipitous
bluff
diaphanous
filmy
gauzy
gossamer
see-through
Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for sheer
See all rhymes for sheer →Frequently asked questions
What does “sheer” mean?
The word “sheer” means thin enough to see through. In plain terms, either see-through and delicate (fabric), or used to mean "total, complete" for emphasis, or describing a very steep drop.
How do you pronounce “sheer”?
“Sheer” is pronounced sheer (/ʃɪɚ/ in IPA).
How do you use “sheer” in a sentence?
Here is “sheer” used in a sentence: “She wore a sheer scarf over her shoulders.”
What is another word for “sheer”?
Words with a similar meaning to “sheer” include diaphanous, filmy, gauzy, gossamer and see-through.
What is the opposite of “sheer”?
The opposite of “sheer” — its antonyms — is opaque.
What part of speech is “sheer”?
“Sheer” is an adjective.
Where does the word “sheer” come from?
The word “sheer” comes from Old English. From Old English sċǣre, "pure, clear, shining" — related to an old word family meaning "bright" rather than to "shear.".
Is “sheer” a common word?
“Sheer” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B1 level.
What is the difference between sheer and shear?
They are homophones with different jobs. Sheer is usually an adjective meaning see-through ("sheer curtains"), complete ("sheer luck"), or very steep ("a sheer cliff"). Shear is a verb meaning to cut or clip, as in shearing sheep, and the cutting tool is a pair of shears.
