shade 1 of 2

noun

ˈshād How to pronounce shade (audio)
Definition of shadenext
1
as in shadow
partial darkness due to the obstruction of light rays it was hard to see in the shade after being in the brilliant sunlight the trees cast shade

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Relevance

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2
as in shadows
a time or place of little or no light enjoying the cool shade of the evening

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3
as in hue
a property that becomes apparent when light falls on an object and by which things that are identical in form can be distinguished a lovely shade of blue

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4
as in splash
a very small amount just a shade taller than his dance partner

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5
as in apparition
the soul of a dead person thought of especially as appearing to living people spirits and shades haunting the night

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shade

2 of 2

verb

as in to protect
to shelter (something) from light and heat the trees shaded us quite nicely from the noonday sun

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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 shade
Noun
It’s formulated with SPF 35 and available in four shades, including fair, medium, tan, and deep. — Natalie Labarbera, InStyle, 13 Aug. 2026 The sky had been a hazy yellow, the same shade as the tint in my sunglasses, on my drive up to Barnard, Vermont, just east of Killington. — Laura Dannen Redman, Robb Report, 13 Aug. 2026
Verb
Just below the chapel that gave the beach its name, close to Tinos town, the pebbly cove of Agios Markos (south) has some of the clearest turquoise water on the island, sheltered from wind and somewhat shaded by a stand of tamarisk trees. — Monica Mendal, Vogue, 10 Aug. 2026 The go-to for Tex-Mex, Latin fare, and blood orange and passionfruit margs in Beaches Town Center, Flying Iguana has shaded sidewalk seating and an open-air dining room where the chunky guacamole is prepared tableside. — Terry Ward, Travel + Leisure, 10 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for shade
Recent Examples of Synonyms for shade
  1. shadow
  2. shadows
  3. hue
  4. splash
  5. apparition
  6. protect
  7. dusk
  8. dark
Noun
  • Ronaldo played and scored in his sixth World Cup for Portugal this summer – an all-time record – but is now a shadow of the player that once dominated the sport.
    — Ben Church, CNN Money, 17 Aug. 2026
  • Whitaker described the look as a slightly muted range of color with deep black shadows, not bleak or colorless, but restrained, serious, suburban, and ordinary.
    — Dana Feldman, Forbes.com, 17 Aug. 2026
Definition of shadow
Noun
  • Serra’s immersive event, a rapture of colors and shadows, pays fittingly grandiose tribute to an emissary of a legendary cinematic era.
    — Jill Goldsmith, Deadline, 11 Aug. 2026
  • The regulatory framework — not the smell itself — determines whether cannabis use happens in the open under reasonable rules or in the shadows with none at all.
    — Peter Su, Forbes.com, 10 Aug. 2026
Definition of shadows
Noun
  • Simply use one or two pumps for a light to medium hue, or three for a deep tan.
    — Alanna Martine Kilkeary, Glamour, 13 Aug. 2026
  • The exterior of the vehicle is finished in a Manufaktur-exclusive, non-metallic hue called Light Ivory.
    — Bryan Hood, Robb Report, 12 Aug. 2026
Definition of hue
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
Noun
  • That is, until miraculous apparitions turn it into a place to be.
    — Marta Balaga, Variety, 17 July 2026
  • The music starts to shift beginning with the third episode, when Lestat becomes overwhelmed by the apparition of his abusive maker and other ghosts, including Claudia, whose killing he’d been forced to witness firsthand.
    — Hannah Giorgis Yohannes, Vanity Fair, 13 July 2026
Definition of apparition
Verb
  • As the Green Lantern, Hal has the power to create material items through his ring, and acts as an intergalactic space officer protecting humanity from extraterrestrial threats.
    — Matt Minton, Variety, 17 Aug. 2026
  • Meta has introduced a slew of new features in recent years designed to protect minors.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 17 Aug. 2026
Definition of protect
Noun
  • Dog walking is becoming a dawn-or-dusk activity, with governments in high heat zones advising owners against midday walks.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 14 Aug. 2026
  • Mercury stays glued to the sun’s glare, visible only briefly at dawn or dusk and best at maximum elongation.
    — Damian Peach, Space.com, 13 Aug. 2026
Definition of dusk
Noun
  • Perseus Rising in the northeast after dark, Perseus is not the easiest constellation to make sense of, but its rich star fields are hard to miss.
    — Jamie Carter, Forbes.com, 10 Aug. 2026
  • Nautical North, Cheboygan, Michigan (Lake Huron) Nautical North’s Shipwreck Tour threads past four lighthouses and three wrecks on the Cheboygan River, with a snorkeling add-on and sunset cruises that light the wrecks up after dark.
    — Stacy Conde, Midwest Living, 10 Aug. 2026
Definition of dark

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shacks
shade
shaded
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Cite this Entry

“Shade.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/shade. Accessed 19 Aug. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on shade

Nglish: Translation of shade for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about shade

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