rays 1 of 2

noun

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

rays

2 of 2

verb

present tense third-person singular of ray
1
as in shines
to emit rays of light klieg lights were raying against the nighttime sky at the Hollywood premiere

Synonyms & Similar Words

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

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 rays
Noun
But the blustery autumn wind is no substitute for the cozy rays of a summer sun. — Georg Szalai, HollywoodReporter, 30 July 2026 Opt For Sunglasses Sunglasses aren’t just a fashion statement—they’re critical to keeping your eyes safe from UV rays. — Health Editorial Team, Health, 29 July 2026 Athletics All-Star first baseman Nick Kurtz will get an MRI on his left forearm Thursday morning after being hit by a pitch Wednesday night, as initial X-rays of his arm Wednesday were inconclusive, A’s manager Mark Kotsay said. — Sean Campbell, Sacbee.com, 29 July 2026 Brand noted that fish with longer, flowing fin rays have some of the best tails for frying. — Joe Cermele, Outdoor Life, 29 July 2026 Protect your eyes from the sun’s rays with the Travis Matthew X DIFF Valencia Sunglasses. — Terri Williams, Forbes.com, 27 July 2026 The accelerator relies on line-replaceable units (LRUs) to generate short, high-energy pulses that power the electron beam used to create X-rays. — Bojan Stojkovski, Interesting Engineering, 26 July 2026 In the human body, thick bones absorb the most X-rays, and appear white on the resultant image. — Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 23 July 2026 Niacinamide and hyaluronic acid, on the other hand, work in harmony to hydrate and boost moisture retention, and the antioxidant-rich vitamin E helps neutralize free radicals caused by UV rays. — Alicia Geigel, Southern Living, 23 July 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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for rays
  1. beams
  2. glimmers
  3. shines
  4. radiates
  5. splashes
  6. glows
  7. branches
  8. specks
Noun
  • The beams, in a 32-story project at 222 Broadway expected to yield nearly 800 apartment units, had been wrapped in steel as a makeshift fix, the agency said.
    — Samantha Delouya, CNN Money, 30 July 2026
  • Yuri was able to gain more ceiling height by taking away the sheetrock and exposing the ceiling beams.
    — Jennifer Fernandez, Architectural Digest, 30 July 2026
Definition of beams
Noun
  • But take a closer look and the report actually provides glimmers of hope.
    — TerDawn DeBoe, Forbes.com, 29 July 2026
  • There were glimmers of form from Yoane Wissa (DR Congo) and Anthony Elanga (Sweden), both of whom need to hit the ground running in the coming season.
    — Anantaajith Raghuraman, New York Times, 24 July 2026
Definition of glimmers
Verb
  • Edinburgh, a city of dramatic landscapes and rich culture, shines during its renowned August festivals, transforming into a global stage for arts and culinary delights.
    — Carinne Geil Botta, Forbes.com, 31 July 2026
  • The store also offers tailoring and alterations, shoe shines, monogramming, engraving, eyebrow waxing and so much more.
    — New York Times, New York Times, 31 July 2026
Definition of shines
Verb
  • Mulch and smart watering finish the job Bare soil bakes in the sun and radiates that heat back into the yard.
    — Lauren Jarvis-Gibson, Charlotte Observer, 30 July 2026
  • Meanwhile, the Alpha Capricornid meteor shower radiates from the Capricornus constellation and tends to feature brighter meteors that are easier to spot — around three per hour as seen from both hemispheres, the American Meteor Society reports.
    — Amen Galinato, CNN Money, 29 July 2026
Definition of radiates
Noun
  • Designed to feel more like island residential living, all accommodations include a kitchen, in-unit washer and dryer, and private outdoor space set against a palette of deep earth tones and splashes of aqua blue.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 4 Aug. 2026
  • From Ancient Greek Sandals to Christopher Esber, these foam footbeds and jelly straps can handle sandy shores and poolside splashes, while being some of the easiest shoes to pack up.
    — Rosie Jarman, Vogue, 3 Aug. 2026
Definition of splashes
Verb
  • Think golden butter blondes, radiant warm ambers, and deep brunettes with seamless dimension that glows.
    — Amanda Le, InStyle, 29 July 2026
  • This painstakingly restored 4K version looks and sounds gorgeous; cinematographer Dante Spinotti’s work glows with saturated vibrancy, and Michel Rubini and the Reds’ score vibrates on a spooky synth frequency.
    — Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 29 July 2026
Definition of glows
Verb
  • His demise, paired with the disappearance of mobster-type Nicky Caccimelio (Bobby Cannavale), sets the trio on the first phase of their adventures, which inevitably branches into fresh red herrings in customary Only Murders fashion.
    — Nicholas Quah, Vulture, 9 Sep. 2025
Definition of branches
Noun
  • Six months later, there was hope of reconciliation as sovereignty talks opened between the governments over the specks in the ocean that had been part of the British Empire for more than a century.
    — Mark Zeigler, San Diego Union-Tribune, 15 July 2026
  • Bellinger, once a babyface, now sports some light specks of gray.
    — Johnny Flores Jr, New York Times, 15 July 2026
Definition of specks

Browse Nearby Words

rayless
rays
raze
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Rays.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rays. Accessed 5 Aug. 2026.

Copy Citation

More from Merriam-Webster on rays

Nglish: Translation of rays for Spanish Speakers

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

7 Pairs of Commonly Confused Words

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

'Sneaked' or 'Snuck': Which is correct?

Why does English have so many silent letters?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

Dutch Treat and French Leave: Eight Place-Based Compounds

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Longest Long Words List

How long is a jiffy?

Even More Bird Names that Sound Like Insults (and Sometimes Are)
See More

Popular

See More

7 Pairs of Commonly Confused Words

Dutch Treat and French Leave: Eight Place-Based Compounds

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
asap street sign
Figure Out These Acronyms ASAP You don't have to be a NASA engineer to get these...
See All