sun-kissed

IPA/ˈsʌn kɪst/
IPA/ˈsʌn kɪst/

sun-kissed — adjective

1. describing bright places with pleasant sunshine, or people with a light, healthy

1.adjectiveB2
Definition

describing bright places with pleasant sunshine, or people with a light, healthy tan from time spent outdoors

Example

The cafe's sun-kissed terrace stayed busy until the evening sea breeze arrived.

attributive use: sun-kissed terrace

After a week in Bali, Elise returned with sun-kissed cheeks and bright eyes.

person: light, healthy tan after sun

Common collocations
  • sun-kissed skin
  • sun-kissed cheeks
  • sun-kissed terrace
  • sun-kissed beach
  • sun-kissed glow
Synonyms
  • sunny

    describes bright weather or places with much sun, not a person's skin

  • sunlit

    focuses on light falling on something at that moment, especially a place

  • tanned

    neutral everyday word for darker skin after sun; not used for scenery

  • bronzed

    stronger and more glamorous; suggests a deeper golden-brown colour

Antonyms
  • shady

    used for places that stay out of direct sunlight

  • pale

    used for skin that does not look browned by the sun

Grammar Patterns

sun-kissed + noun

look/be + sun-kissed

Usage Note

Often suggests a gentle, attractive effect rather than strong heat or a dark tan. It is common before nouns for places and after look or be for a person's appearance.

Common Mistakes

The old photo paper is sun-kissed from sitting in the window.
The old photo paper is sun-faded from sitting in the window.
'sun-kissed' usually has a warm, attractive meaning, not damage from long exposure.

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: adjective/1

'Sunny' usually describes weather or a place that gets a lot of sunlight, while 'sunlit' focuses on light falling on something at a particular moment. 'Sun-kissed' is warmer and more stylistic: it can describe a place, but it also describes a person whose skin has a light, healthy tan. 'Tanned' is the neutral everyday word for darker skin after time in the sun and is not normally used for landscapes. 'Bronzed' is stronger and more glamorous, suggesting a deeper golden-brown colour. If you are talking about skin, 'sun-kissed' suggests a gentle natural effect, while 'tanned' or 'bronzed' suggests a darker result.

sunny ↗sunlit ↗sun-kissed ↗tanned ↗bronzed ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

Phrases

  • look sun-kissed

Etymology

English

Sun-kissed is a modern English compound formed from 'sun' and 'kissed'. It uses the image of sunlight touching a place or person gently, so the word usually suggests warmth, beauty, and a pleasing natural effect rather than heat damage.