Sunshine

Direct light and warmth arriving from the sun.

Reach for it when naming natural daylight that brightens or warms a place

A stripe of sunshine reached across the kitchen floor.

• everyday

  daylight

  when natural daytime illumination is the practical concern

  not when Daylight includes overcast light and is not necessarily sunny.

• professional

  sunlight

  when the physical light itself is meant precisely

  not when Sunlight is neutral and lacks the warmth or pleasure often carried by sunshine.

• literary

  sunbeams

  when separate visible shafts of light shape the image

  not when General outdoor brightness does not consist of distinct sunbeams.

A person or influence that brings happiness and warmth.

Reach for it when affectionately praising someone who lifts other people's spirits

Leo is a little sunshine in the quiet ward.

• everyday

  bright spot

  when one welcome person or event improves a hard situation

  not when A bright spot can pass quickly and lacks sunshine's affectionate warmth.

• warm

  ray of hope

  when encouragement points toward a better future

  not when Someone can be sunshine through present joy without offering future hope.

• formal

  delight

  when the person or thing gives great pleasure

  not when Delight names the response rather than the warm influence producing it.

• darkness
• shade
• misery

• warm sunshine

  Warm sunshine dried the painted benches by noon.

• burst of sunshine

  A burst of sunshine lit the wet rooftops.

• ray of sunshine

  Her encouraging message was a ray of sunshine during the delay.