ray 1 of 2

noun

Definition of raynext
1
as in beam
a narrow sharply defined line of light radiating from an object two red eyes reflected in the ray of light from the flashlight

Synonyms & Similar Words

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2
as in glimmer
a very small amount the tapping sound ceased, extinguishing the last ray of hope that the trapped miners were still alive

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

ray

2 of 2

verb

1
as in to shine
to emit rays of light klieg lights were raying against the nighttime sky at the Hollywood premiere

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to radiate
to extend outwards from or as if from a central point laugh wrinkles rayed out from the corners of the old man's eyes

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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 ray
Noun
There are some crazy laser rays, goofy wipe transitions, robots who are menaces to society, to be sure. — Sarah Shachat, IndieWire, 21 Aug. 2026 Essentially, hackers disguise malware as ripped Blu-ray releases or other legitimate video versions of the movie, and once downloaded, users get infected. — Alan Henry, PC Magazine, 21 Aug. 2026
Verb
Scientists have long grouped sharks together as a natural evolutionary unit, meaning every shark species shares a common ancestor that rays and skates do not. — Melissa Cristina Márquez, Forbes.com, 23 May 2026 The PlayStation 5 Pro is a more powerful spin on the vanilla PS5, thanks to ray tracing and AI upscaling that give games a visual boost. — Will Greenwald, PC Magazine, 27 Mar. 2026 See All Example Sentences for ray
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ray
  1. beam
  2. glimmer
  3. shine
  4. radiate
  5. splash
  6. glow
  7. speck
  8. hint
Noun
  • That’s harder than trying to spot a firefly right next to someone flashing their high-beams at you.
    — Noah Haggerty, Los Angeles Times, 28 Aug. 2026
  • The antlers grew off to the sides of the deer’s head instead of going upward, which contributed to the wide inside spread and long beams.
    — Richard P. Smith, Outdoor Life, 27 Aug. 2026
Definition of beam
Noun
  • The polls offer a glimmer of hope for Democrats and their voters, who hope that the party can shrink the Republican majority in Congress – or capture it – this midterm season.
    — Emily R. Condon, USA Today, 25 Aug. 2026
  • While more muted in color than her later looks, the outfit shows an early glimmer of her future full-on sparkle.
    — Kelsey Stiegman, InStyle, 25 Aug. 2026
Definition of glimmer
Verb
  • Fans, artists, and leaders across all industries are mourning the star whose relentless optimism, grace, and resilience was a shining light.
    — Charisma Madarang, Rolling Stone, 26 Aug. 2026
  • The Bengals have good problems at receiver as backups shine, but there are still major questions about offensive line depth.
    — Paul Dehner Jr, New York Times, 25 Aug. 2026
Definition of shine
Verb
  • Feliciano and Jones radiated energy and exuberance throughout their first press conference as the principal owners of the Padres.
    — Dennis Lin, New York Times, 25 Aug. 2026
  • The Happy Hours star radiated in a strapless deep purple silk dress with a distressed scoop neckline and asymmetrical draping on her left hip, creating a ruched effect that cascaded down to the ankle-length hemline.
    — Lara Walsh, InStyle, 22 Aug. 2026
Definition of radiate
Noun
  • Sprouse’s first collections in the mid-1980s made a major splash, melding graffiti prints, a playful ’60s aesthetic, and bright Day-Glo colors that won admirers such as Andy Warhol.
    — ArsTechnica, ArsTechnica, 25 Aug. 2026
  • The bagels are the creations of Moreira, who grew up in Argentina but learned quickly how to make bagels that caused a splash.
    — Connie Ogle, Miami Herald, 25 Aug. 2026
Definition of splash
Verb
  • For a bold and vibrant fall hair transformation, consider colors with warm tones that add depth and glow to your look.
    — Alyssa Rotunno, InStyle, 27 Aug. 2026
  • On Broadway, these glow like amber beacons, alas offering a respite from the darkness that best serves what Holloway and Barrett are trying to do.
    — Chris Jones, New York Daily News, 26 Aug. 2026
Definition of glow
Noun
  • Calcium shows up as bright white specks on the coronary artery images.
    — Hanna Wickes, Kansas City Star, 20 Aug. 2026
  • Pulse a few times, until crumbs range in size from specks to peas.
    — Leah Eskin, Midwest Living, 14 Aug. 2026
Definition of speck
Noun
  • The cuisine was also noteworthy, a generous choice of cocktails, wines, and cuisine with hints of contemporary English inspiration, while avoiding being British stodgy.
    — Michael Verdon, Robb Report, 28 Aug. 2026
  • Warsh is unlikely to reveal his approach before the task forces report but at Jackson Hole the whole world will be looking for hints regarding his plans to reshape the Fed.
    — Paul Wachtel, The Conversation, 28 Aug. 2026
Definition of hint

Phrases Containing ray

Browse Nearby Words

rawness
ray
rayed
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Cite this Entry

“Ray.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ray. Accessed 1 Sep. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on ray

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about ray

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