ray 1 of 2

noun

Definition of raynext
1
as in beam
a narrow sharply defined line of light radiating from an object two red eyes reflected in the ray of light from the flashlight

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2
as in glimmer
a very small amount the tapping sound ceased, extinguishing the last ray of hope that the trapped miners were still alive

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

ray

2 of 2

verb

1
as in to shine
to emit rays of light klieg lights were raying against the nighttime sky at the Hollywood premiere

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to radiate
to extend outwards from or as if from a central point laugh wrinkles rayed out from the corners of the old man's eyes

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of ray
Noun
In one study of nearly 240,000 chest X-rays, standard performance metrics failed to flag drift that was clinically obvious. — Fawad Butt, Forbes.com, 4 Aug. 2026 For decades to come, high school kids — probably even a few high school teachers — are just going to pop in his Blu-ray and call it a day. — Amy Nicholson, Los Angeles Times, 4 Aug. 2026
Verb
Scientists have long grouped sharks together as a natural evolutionary unit, meaning every shark species shares a common ancestor that rays and skates do not. — Melissa Cristina Márquez, Forbes.com, 23 May 2026 The PlayStation 5 Pro is a more powerful spin on the vanilla PS5, thanks to ray tracing and AI upscaling that give games a visual boost. — Will Greenwald, PC Magazine, 27 Mar. 2026 See All Example Sentences for ray
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ray
  1. beam
  2. glimmer
  3. shine
  4. radiate
  5. splash
  6. glow
  7. speck
  8. hint
Noun
  • Needing to capitalize on her two strongest events, Skye Blakely mounted the beam.
    — Caroline Price, Forbes.com, 8 Aug. 2026
  • An open floor plan and exposed solid wood beams set a lovely tone for this beautiful home, as does the vintage wood-burning stove and Dutch-style farm doors.
    — Elise Taylor, Vogue, 7 Aug. 2026
Definition of beam
Noun
  • If there is a glimmer of hope in the smoke, it can be found in the relatively low mortality rates for these recent urban fires, and their largely successful evacuations, which demonstrate real social cohesion and admirable courage and civic spirit.
    — John Vaillant, Time, 8 Aug. 2026
  • As his mind retreats to the hues of old movies, Charlotte breaks the fog with a glimmer of humanity.
    — Andy Andersen, Vulture, 7 Aug. 2026
Definition of glimmer
Verb
  • When the moon starts to cross in front of the sun, the star’s rays will shine around valleys on the moon’s horizon, creating glowing drops of light around the moon called Baily’s beads.
    — Ashley Strickland, CNN Money, 12 Aug. 2026
  • In a matchup between struggling lineups, both starting pitchers shined.
    — CBS New York Team, CBS News, 12 Aug. 2026
Definition of shine
Verb
  • The love between Sophie and Liz radiates from their every interaction, even before the bad news hits.
    — Angie Han, HollywoodReporter, 12 Aug. 2026
  • Observations of the Perseids go back more than 2,000 years, with meteors radiating from the constellation of Perseus.
    — Amen Galinato, CNN Money, 11 Aug. 2026
Definition of radiate
Noun
  • Fill a glass most of the way with sparkling water, add a splash of blueberry juice and serve over ice.
    — Ryan Brennan, Kansas City Star, 11 Aug. 2026
  • Toss well, adding noodle water one splash at a time, until the sauce is creamy and everything is coated evenly.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 10 Aug. 2026
Definition of splash
Verb
  • Matalyn Chitwood graduated from Spring Hill High School in 2023 with a glowing report card.
    — Julianna Mejia, Kansas City Star, 13 Aug. 2026
  • When entertaining, the formal dining room—glowing in gold—can seat up to 20 at a custom Brazilian onyx table.
    — Tori Latham, Robb Report, 13 Aug. 2026
Definition of glow
Noun
  • For millions of people with geographic atrophy, the speck in their vision is far more literal and can eventually lead to blindness.
    — New Atlas, New Atlas, 5 Aug. 2026
  • Pay close attention to where leaves meet the stem, the underside of leaves, and within the petals for any movement or tiny specks.
    — Jamie Cuccinelli, Martha Stewart, 4 Aug. 2026
Definition of speck
Noun
  • The models struck the same pose at the InStyle Awards in November 2021, reminding us that everything’s better with a hint of glimmer.
    — Grace Gavilanes, PEOPLE, 8 Aug. 2026
  • But that news won’t capture eyeballs, so the media tend to focus on any hint of bad news.
    — Bill Conerly, Forbes.com, 6 Aug. 2026
Definition of hint

Phrases Containing ray

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rawness
ray
rayed
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Cite this Entry

“Ray.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ray. Accessed 14 Aug. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on ray

Nglish: Translation of ray for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about ray

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