In the Coverdale Bible in 1535, in Genesis and Exodus about 1250 as Middle English sunnesine; synchronically . Compare isolated Old English sunsċīn.

• IPA: /ˈsʌnʃaɪn/

sunshine (uncountable)

1. The direct rays, light or warmth of the sun.

   Synonyms: sun, sunlight

   We were warmed by the bright sunshine.

   • 1535 October 14 (Gregorian calendar), Myles Coverdale, transl., Biblia: The Byble, […] (Coverdale Bible), [Cologne or Marburg]: [Eucharius Cervicornus and Johannes Soter?], →OCLC ↗, Job viij:[16–17], folio iij, verso ↗, column 1:

     Oft tymes a thinge doth floꝛiſh, and men thynke that it maye abyde the Sonneſhyne: it ſhuteth foꝛth the bꝛaunches in his garden, it taketh many rotes, in ſo moch that it is like an houſe off ſtones.

   • 1648, Robert Herrick, “The Apparition of His Mistresse Calling Him to Elizium”, in Hesperides: Or, The Works both Humane & Divine […], London: […] John Williams, and Francis Eglesfield, and are to be sold by Tho[mas] Hunt, […], →OCLC ↗, [https://archive.org/details/bim_early-english-books-1641-1700_hesperides-or-the-work_herrick-robert_1648_0/page/(240)/mode/1up page 240]:

     And all the ſhrubs, vvith ſparkling ſpangles, ſhevv / Like Morning-Sun-ſhine tinsilling the devv.

2. A location on which the sun's rays fall.

   We moved out of the shade and into the sunshine.

   • 1879, R[ichard] J[efferies], chapter II, in The Amateur Poacher, London: Smith, Elder, & Co., […], →OCLC ↗:

     Out again into the sunshine by the wide mouth of the Green River, as the chart named the brook whose level stream scarce moved into the lake. A streak of blue shot up it between the banks, and a shrill pipe came back as the kingfisher hastened away.

3. (figurative) Geniality or cheerfulness.

   I enjoyed the sunshine of her smile.

4. A source of cheerfulness or joy.
5. The effect which the sun has when it lights and warms some place.
6. (UK) Friendly form of address often reserved for juniors.

   Alright sunshine, safe to cross now.

7. (UK) Ironic form of address used to an inferior or troublemaker.

   OK, sunshine, listen up and listen good. There's five vandalised telephone boxes out there and I know you're responsible.

8. (humorous) Used to address someone who has just woken up and/or is very sleepy.

   Good morning, sunshine!

9. (slang, uncountable, uncommon) Ellipsis of orange sunshine

• sunbeam

• French: soleil, lumière du soleil
• German: Sonnenschein
• Italian: luce del sole
• Portuguese: luz do sol, luz solar
• Russian: солнечный свет
• Spanish: sol, luz del sol

• German: Sonnenschein
• Portuguese: sol

• Portuguese: alegria

sunshine (not comparable)

1. (chiefly US) Open to and permitting public access, especially with regard to activities that were previously closed-door or back-room meetings.

   Because of the sunshine law, we could go to the planning meeting.

1. Surname.