SUNSET

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does sunset mean? 

• SUNSET (noun)
  The noun SUNSET has 3 senses:

1. the time in the evening at which the sun begins to fall below the horizon

2. atmospheric phenomena accompanying the daily disappearance of the sun

3. the daily event of the sun sinking below the horizon

  Familiarity information: SUNSET used as a noun is uncommon.

• SUNSET (adjective)
  The adjective SUNSET has 2 senses:

1. of a declining industry or technology

2. providing for termination

  Familiarity information: SUNSET used as an adjective is rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• SUNSET (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

The time in the evening at which the sun begins to fall below the horizon

Classified under:

Nouns denoting time and temporal relations

Synonyms:

sundown; sunset

Hypernyms ("sunset" is a kind of...):

hour; time of day (clock time)

Holonyms ("sunset" is a part of...):

eve; even; evening; eventide (the latter part of the day (the period of decreasing daylight from late afternoon until nightfall))

Antonym:

sunrise (the first light of day)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Atmospheric phenomena accompanying the daily disappearance of the sun

Classified under:

Nouns denoting natural phenomena

Hypernyms ("sunset" is a kind of...):

atmospheric phenomenon (a physical phenomenon associated with the atmosphere)

Sense 3

Meaning:

The daily event of the sun sinking below the horizon

Classified under:

Nouns denoting natural events

Hypernyms ("sunset" is a kind of...):

periodic event; recurrent event (an event that recurs at intervals)

• SUNSET (adjective)

Sense 1

Meaning:

Of a declining industry or technology

Context example:

sunset industries

Similar:

old (of long duration; not new)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Providing for termination

Context example:

a program with a sunset provision

Similar:

last (coming after all others in time or space or degree or being the only one remaining)

 Context examples 

It was now late in the afternoon, and sunset was not far off.

(Dracula, by Bram Stoker)

Any time after sunset should be fine.

(November Supermoon a Spectacular Sight, NASA)

A similar effect is what causes sunsets to appear red.

(All we are is dust in the interstellar wind, NSF)

In the process, Titan's sunsets revealed just how dramatic the effects of hazes can be.

(Sunsets on Titan reveal the complexity of hazy exoplanets, NASA)

This was the first sunset observed in color by Curiosity.

(Sunset in Mars' Gale Crater, NASA)

I came, one evening before sunset, down into a valley, where I was to rest.

(David Copperfield, by Charles Dickens)

Well, last evening we went up to the castle about sunset, at least all of us but Fred, who was to meet us there after going to the Post Restante for letters.

(Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott)

The court was very cool and a little damp, and full of premature twilight, although the sky, high up overhead, was still bright with sunset.

(The Strange Case Of Dr. Jekyll And Mr. Hyde, by Robert Louis Stevenson)

I stayed till sunset, but humbly desired his highness to excuse me for not accepting his invitation of lodging in the palace.

(Gulliver's Travels into several remote nations of the world, by Jonathan Swift)

The time between sunrise and sunset while it is light.

(Daytime, NCI Thesaurus)