sunset
SUHN-seht
Sunset (noun) means the moment the sun goes down below the horizon in the evening. Example: “The sunset behind the hills turned the lake a deep orange.”
noun
1
The moment the sun goes down below the horizon in the evening.
"The sunset behind the hills turned the lake a deep orange."
"We watched the sunset from the pier."
"The sunset painted the clouds red and gold."
2
The final stage or ending phase of something, such as a career or era.
"He saw his final years at the club as the sunset of a long career."
"Many people feel the sunset of their working lives brings both relief and worry."
"The policy has a five-year sunset clause after which it expires."
verb
1
To gradually end or phase out a program, policy, or product.
"The council will sunset the scheme once the new service is ready."
"We decided to sunset the old website after moving everything to the new one."
"The company plans to sunset the old app by next year."
How to use sunset
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishThe sun going down, or figuratively the planned end of something.
Easily confused with
Common pairings
sunset clause
sunset a product
watch the sunset
sunset over the ocean
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Word forms
- Plural
- sunsets
- Third person singular
- sunsets
- Past tense
- sunsetted
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The _____ behind the hills turned the lake a deep orange.
Etymology
From Middle English sonne-sett, literally the sun setting.
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
Related words
Frequently asked questions
What does “sunset” mean?
The word “sunset” means the moment the sun goes down below the horizon in the evening. In plain terms, the sun going down, or figuratively the planned end of something.
How do you pronounce “sunset”?
“Sunset” is pronounced SUHN-seht (/ˈsʌnˌsɛt/ in IPA).
How do you use “sunset” in a sentence?
Here is “sunset” used in a sentence: “We watched the sunset from the pier.”
What is another word for “sunset”?
Words with a similar meaning to “sunset” include dusk, sundown, nightfall, twilight, last and terminal.
What is the opposite of “sunset”?
The opposite of “sunset” — its antonyms — is sunrise.
What part of speech is “sunset”?
Depending on how it is used, “sunset” can be a noun and a verb.
Where does the word “sunset” come from?
The word “sunset” comes from Middle English. From Middle English sonne-sett, literally the sun setting.
Is “sunset” a common word?
“Sunset” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B1 level.
What is the difference between sunset and dusk?
Sunset is the precise moment the sun goes down below the horizon in the evening, while dusk is the period of fading light that follows it. In everyday use, dusk refers to the darker end of twilight, just before night falls. So sunset happens first, and dusk comes afterward.
Can sunset be used as a verb?
Yes. In business and policy writing, to sunset something means to gradually end or phase it out, as in "the firm will sunset the legacy software next year." The related term "sunset clause" describes a provision that gives a law or program an automatic end date.
What is the difference between sunset and twilight?
Sunset is the single moment the sun disappears below the horizon, whereas twilight is the stretch of partial light that follows it in the evening (and precedes sunrise in the morning). A sunset is over in minutes; twilight can linger far longer.
Is it sunset or sundown?
Both words name the moment the sun goes below the horizon in the evening, and they are interchangeable. Sunset is far more common in writing and is the form used in forecasts and almanacs, while sundown carries a slightly informal, regional flavor.
