1
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in to shine
to emit rays of light
klieg lights were raying against the nighttime sky at the Hollywood premiere
Synonyms & Similar Words
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
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
New Atlas,
3 July 2026
Researchers recently visualized a set of images across a spectrum of red, white, and blue hues compiled by the Chandra X-ray Observatory as well as the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST).
—
Andrew Paul,
Popular Science,
2 July 2026
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
Noun
When exposed to visible light, electricity, chemical fuels, or X-rays, its molecules accept electrons.
—
New Atlas,
3 July 2026
Researchers recently visualized a set of images across a spectrum of red, white, and blue hues compiled by the Chandra X-ray Observatory as well as the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST).
—
Andrew Paul,
Popular Science,
2 July 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
Noun
-
Also present in the wood panelling inside the wall is a hand sticking out of a beam.
-
In the evening, the Macy’s Fourth of July fireworks show will draw thousands of eyes upward as 85,000 shells are launched from six barges and a laser show beams up from the Brooklyn Bridge.
Noun
-
News crews, Venezuelan officials and nearby residents were drawn to a remarkable scene that offered a glimmer of hope amid the country’s otherwise dystopian tableau.
-
Tuesday's rescue marked another glimmer of hope amid the disaster that has devastated the South American country.
Verb
-
Reality Check is a Star series holding those with power to account and shining a light on their decisions.
-
But good things tend to happen for the Phillies when Schwarber shines — and the second half isn’t even here yet.
Verb
-
The 43 rooms are spread across two neighboring heritage mansions in the old fisherman village of Sariyer and radiate Old World elegance in the most understated of ways, letting the intricate moldings and murals steal the show.
-
When P-waves start radiating from the earthquake underground, Android phones sense the vibrations, start collecting data and send it back to Google servers for processing.
Noun
-
Mysterio came back with a baseball slide into a splash on the outside.
-
Betts is making his splash at the plate again.
Verb
-
The glowing ribbon of the Milky Way tumbles directly through this cosmic triangle before arcing towards the southern horizon, though its diffuse light will be hidden behind a veil of moonlight on the night of the full moon.
-
Nobody writes a glowing reference for the person who stole their idea.
Noun
-
Flash frames, scratches and specks of dust pop up randomly on the screen.
-
Last night, England played its first game of the tournament—a rematch against Croatia, in Dallas—and the defensive prowess was a speck on the horizon; both sides scored twice in a breathless first half.
Noun
-
Four years later, there’s not a hint of complacency or dejection in France.
-
An abundance of hints, clues and other helpful items await, not to mention a bonus Custom Wordle and plenty more.
Cite this Entry
“Ray.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ray. Accessed 5 Jul. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
