sunset

1 of 3

noun

sun·​set ˈsən-ˌset How to pronounce sunset (audio)
1
: the apparent descent of the sun below the horizon
also : the accompanying atmospheric effects
2
: the time when the upper limb of the sun disappears below the horizon as a result of the diurnal rotation of the earth
3
: a period of decline
especially : old age

sunset

2 of 3

adjective

: stipulating the periodic review of government agencies and programs in order to continue their existence
sunset laws

sunset

3 of 3

verb

sunsetted; sunsetting
1
transitive US : to cause or allow (something, such as a law) to lapse, end, or be terminated
And yet, even though he was part of the coalition, Obama offered an amendment … that would have sunsetted the merit-based evaluation system for immigrants after five years.Jake Tapper
In an effort to cut back on projects, Google decided to sunset Google Reader …Tristan Louis
2
intransitive US : to lapse or come to an end : expire
laws that will sunset at the end of the year
Since the credit will sunset at the end of 2016, its fate could rest in the hands of a new Congress and a new president—who might not necessarily see the value in reinstating the credit.Eric S. Peterson

Examples of sunset in a Sentence

Noun We worked from sunrise to sunset. the golden light of sunset
Recent Examples on the Web
Noun
The couple exchanged their vows under the Maldivian sunset, and afterwards, guests gathered for dinner and to listen to heartfelt speeches from family and friends. Alexandra MacOn, Vogue, 15 Mar. 2024 Kwame’s pre-wedding jitters are tamped down by big sister Barbara, leaving the happy couple to run into a sunset filled with pink kitchen gadgets and Rocky the dog. Charlotte Walsh, Vulture, 14 Mar. 2024 Observers will begin fasting for the next month from sunrise to sunset and engaging in activities that challenge their self-restraint and bring them closer to God. USA TODAY, 12 Mar. 2024 That means setting up a dozen medical tents on the plaza and organizing iftar dinners after sunset to celebrate the end of the daily fast for tens of thousands of worshipers. Sufian Taha, Washington Post, 9 Mar. 2024 Each comes with a rooftop lounge that may just be the best place to watch a sunset in the Caribbean, along with a bunch of exclusive perks. Stacey Leasca, Travel + Leisure, 8 Mar. 2024 This night only occurs during Ramadan and will last from sunset to sunrise. The Enquirer, 7 Mar. 2024 And since the final image is of her, a full-grown, nonpregnant woman literally turning her back on the whole mess and preparing to ride a sandworm into the sunset, maybe there is hope for us all. Mary McNamara, Los Angeles Times, 5 Mar. 2024 On the East Coast, parts of states like Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, New York and Connecticut are already recording sunsets after 5:30 p.m. ET, according to TimeandDate.com. USA TODAY, 4 Mar. 2024
Adjective
Add an elegant outdoor sconce for some post-sunset flow and a cozy pillow. Sofia Quintero, ELLE Decor, 28 Mar. 2023 The solar system’s largest planet this week takes a bow and departs the post-sunset night sky for many months. Jamie Carter, Forbes, 26 Mar. 2023 Venus is getting brighter in the post-sunset western sky, this week passing close to Neptune. Jamie Carter, Forbes, 12 Feb. 2023 The three may have combined to produce post-sunset skies on the western horizon that seemed to represent a sort of meteorological inkblot test. Martin Weil, Washington Post, 4 Dec. 2022 The moon appears this week as a slim crescent in the post-sunset sky. Jamie Carter, Forbes, 22 Jan. 2023 This post-sunset lighting can be seen in the introductory image above, which showcases reddish hues bouncing off the white cores and upper stage. Eric Berger, Ars Technica, 16 Jan. 2023 However, this year the probable culprit—the occasionally extraordinarily bright planet Venus—will return this week to the post-sunset western sky. Jamie Carter, Forbes, 18 Dec. 2022 The post ends with a sunset aerial view of her Hidden Hills property, showing the manicured landscape, a basketball court and a glimpse of a pool. Natalia Senanayake, Peoplemag, 30 Nov. 2022
Verb
Muslims who have reached puberty and who are physically capable will fast from sunrise to sunset every day for about 30 days. John Bacon, USA TODAY, 10 Mar. 2024 On March 31, sunrise will occur at 6:32 a.m. and sunset at 7:18 p.m., for a total of 12 hours and 46 minutes of daylight. Claire Reid, Journal Sentinel, 4 Mar. 2024 And an unrelated viral hoax circulated on X at the end of last week, stating Google would sunset its wildly popular Gmail platform on August 1. Cio, Forbes, 29 Feb. 2024 The period of probation took effect Feb. 8, 2022, and sunset six days before Mays allegedly set off a chain of gunfire that left 25 people shot, including several children and a bystander who died. Bill Lukitsch, Kansas City Star, 23 Feb. 2024 During a subcommittee hearing this month, Maryland Supreme Court Chief Justice Matthew J. Fader requested $2 million to carry the program through the end of the calendar year, when it was set to sunset by statute. Katie Mettler, Washington Post, 29 Feb. 2024 Many people around the world will celebrate Ramadan with sunrise to sunset fasting for the entire month, praying, charity and spending time with family. Jordan Green, Detroit Free Press, 29 Feb. 2024 That contract was set to sunset in November of last year but has been extended through May. Emily Alvarenga, San Diego Union-Tribune, 28 Feb. 2024 However, the public can still visit the nature center’s four locations, where the trails are free to use from sunrise to sunset every day, all year. Molly Guthrey, Twin Cities, 31 Jan. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'sunset.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Adjective

1974, in the meaning defined above

Verb

1976, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of sunset was before the 12th century

Dictionary Entries Near sunset

Cite this Entry

“Sunset.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sunset. Accessed 29 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

sunset

noun
sun·​set
-ˌset
1
: the apparent sinking of the sun below the horizon
also : the accompanying atmospheric effects
2
: the time at which the sun sets

Legal Definition

sunset

adjective
sun·​set
: having or being a provision stipulating the termination or repeal of something (as a law, grant, or insurance coverage) on a specified date
sunset laws requiring periodic review of programs to justify their continuance

More from Merriam-Webster on sunset

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