ENGLISH
REFERENCE

shine

v. · n.
US //ˈʃaɪn// UK //ʃˈaɪn// shine
Irregular verb past shone / shined past participle shone / shined
  1. 1 to emit light (v.)
    A2 Elementary

    to give off light or glow brightly.

    to emit light or be bright by reflection of light.

    Example

    The sun began to shine through the clouds after the storm passed.

    Example

    The lighthouse lantern continued to shine across the bay, providing a steady guide for the returning fishing fleet.
    Pitfall
    The sun has shined all day.
    The sun has shone all day.

    When 'shine' means to emit light, the past tense is usually 'shone'. Use 'shined' for polishing or pointing a light.

  2. 2 to excel (v.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate

    to be very good at something or to stand out because of your talent.

    to be eminent or distinguished; to exhibit brilliant intellectual or creative powers in a specific field.

    Example

    She really started to shine once she joined the school drama club.

    Example

    While he struggled with written exams, he truly began to shine during the practical laboratory sessions where his technical skills were evident.
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  1. 3 to point a light (v.)
    B1 Intermediate

    to aim a light, like a flashlight, in a certain direction.

    to direct the light from a source, such as a torch or lamp, toward a specific object or area.

    Example

    The guard shined his flashlight into the dark corner of the warehouse.

    Example

    The rescue team shined their powerful spotlights onto the cliff face to locate the stranded climbers before nightfall.

    Usage

    In this sense, the past tense is usually 'shined' rather than 'shone'.
  2. 4 to polish (v.)
    B1 Intermediate

    to rub something until it becomes smooth and bright.

    to make an object smooth and bright by rubbing or polishing, often with a chemical agent.

    Example

    He shined his shoes until he could see his reflection in them.

    Example

    The butler shined the silver cutlery daily to ensure it met the exacting standards of the household.

    Usage

    The past tense for this sense is always 'shined'.
  3. 5 brightness (n.)
    B1 Intermediate

    the bright light that comes from the sun or a smooth surface.

    the quality of brightness from a source of light or the reflection from a polished surface.

    Example

    The wax gave the old wooden table a beautiful, healthy shine.

    Example

    The morning sun had a particular shine that made the dew on the grass look like scattered diamonds.
  4. 6 a liking for someone (n.)
    C1 Advanced Informal

    to suddenly start liking someone very much.

    a sudden or spontaneous liking or fancy for a person.

    Example

    The boss really took a shine to the new intern and gave her more responsibility.

    Example

    It was clear that the elderly cat had taken a shine to the visitor, as it rarely approached strangers so readily.

    Usage

    Almost always used in the phrase 'to take a shine to someone'.
Etymology 1

From Middle English shinen, schinen (preterite schon, past participle schinen), from Old English sċīnan (“to shine, flash; be resplendent”; preterite sċān, past participle sċinen), from Proto-West Germanic skīnan (“to shine”), from Proto-Germanic skīnaną (“to shine”).

Etymology 2

From the noun shine, or perhaps continuing Middle English schinen in its causative uses, from Old English scīn (“brightness, shine”), and also Middle English schenen, from Old English scǣnan (“to render brilliant, make shine”), from Proto-Germanic skainijaną, causative of skīnaną (“to shine”).

Word family
Idioms3 entries

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