sunset

[ suhn-set ]

noun

1. the setting or descent of the sun below the horizon in the evening.
2. the atmospheric and scenic phenomena accompanying this.
3. the time when the sun sets.
4. the close or final stage of any period.

adjective

1. (of an industry, technology, etc.) old; declining:

   sunset industries.

2. of, relating to, or characteristic of a sunset law:

   to add sunset restrictions to a bill.

sunset

/ ˈsʌnˌsɛt /

noun

1. the daily disappearance of the sun below the horizon
2. the atmospheric phenomena accompanying this disappearance
3. Also calledsundown the time at which the sun sets at a particular locality
4. the final stage or closing period, as of a person's life

Word History and Origins

Origin of sunset¹

Middle English word dating back to 1350–1400; sun, set

Example Sentences

It is composed of sarsens and bluestones, all of them aligned towards the sunrise on the summer solstice and sunset on the winter solstice.

From Salon

Watching footage of Earth orbits from the ISS helped inspire the book, Harvey told NPR, including the 16 sunsets and sunrises the astronauts in her book experience over the day she writes about.

From Los Angeles Times

The world's richest man announced his support for the former president earlier this year, despite saying in 2022 that "it's time for Trump to hang up his hat and sail into the sunset".

From BBC

He also added that billionaire Elon Musk, a previous Trump critic who then went on to campaign for his re-election, had previously expressed a desire for him to "walk off into the sunset".

From BBC

She started to get worried when she hadn’t heard from anyone by sunset.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• dusk
• nightfall
• sundown
• twilight