sunset
time when the sun goes down
The time in the evening when the sun goes down and you cannot see it in the sky anymore.
[someone] [does something] at sunset
- We reached the top of the mountain just before sunset.
- The park closes at sunset for safety reasons.
- In summer, the sunset is much later in the evening.
- Fasting continues from sunrise to sunset during the holy month.
- By sunset the temperature had finally started to drop.
- The sun looks big and red at sunset.
- We walk on the beach at sunset every day.
- Sunset is at 7:45 this evening.
- The city lights turn on after sunset.
- They want to finish the work before sunset.
colors and view of the evening sky
The beautiful colors in the sky when the sun goes down in the evening.
watch the sunset over [a place]
- We sat on the rocks and watched a bright orange sunset over the sea.
- The photographer waited for sunset to capture the perfect light.
- Last night's sunset turned the whole sky pink and purple.
- Tourists gather on the hill every evening to see the famous island sunset.
- Clouds can make the sunset look even more dramatic.
- The sunset is very beautiful today.
- They took photos of the red sunset.
- We watched the sunset from the hotel roof.
- I like to paint the sunset over the mountains.
- There was a golden sunset after the storm.
final or declining period of something
The last part of something, like a life, career, or time period, when it is getting weaker or near the end.
the sunset of [something]
- He wrote his most personal work in the sunset of his career.
- Many worry that democracy is entering its sunset in some countries.
- The company spent its sunset years trying to adapt to digital technology.
- She moved to the countryside to enjoy the sunset of her life in peace.
- Critics called the industry a sunset sector with no real future.
- He found new hobbies in the sunset of his life.
- The factory is in its sunset years and will close soon.
- Some people travel a lot in the sunset of their careers.
- They want to live quietly in their sunset years.
- The old company is in the sunset of its history.
ending automatically at a set time
Describing a law or program that is written so it will stop by itself on a set date or after a set time.
a sunset [law/policy/clause]
- The committee added a sunset clause so the new tax would expire after five years.
- These regulations are subject to a sunset review every three years.
- Under the sunset provision, the emergency powers will lapse next summer.
- Lawmakers insisted on sunset language to prevent the program from becoming permanent.
- The bill includes several sunset measures to limit long-term government spending.
- The new law has a sunset clause.
- A sunset rule means the program will end in five years.
- They put a sunset provision in the contract.
- The sunset law will stop the extra tax next year.
- The policy is sunset, not permanent.
to end something on a set date
To stop a program, rule, product, or service on a planned date so people cannot use it anymore.
to sunset [a product/program/policy]
- The company plans to sunset its older software platform next year.
- Several tax credits will be sunset under the new legislation.
- Support for the legacy system will be sunset in December 2026.
- They decided to sunset the service rather than continue investing in it.
- The board voted to sunset the pilot program after the trial period.
- The bank will sunset this card next year.
- Our company will sunset the old app soon.
- The government may sunset the program in 2027.
- They sunset support for the old phones.
- The plan will be sunset after three years.
- Base: sunset
- Plural: sunset, sunsets
sunset clause
1clause that makes a law expire
A rule inside a law or contract that says the law or contract will automatically end on a certain date or after a set time.
- The new security law includes a sunset clause of five years.
- Without a sunset clause, the emergency powers could continue indefinitely.
- Lawmakers added a sunset clause to reassure critics who feared a permanent tax increase.
sunset provision
1provision that ends a measure automatically
A part of a law or rule that makes it stop working automatically after a set time or when something happens.
- The sunset provision means the regulations will lapse in 2030 unless renewed.
- Some senators oppose the bill because it has no sunset provision.
- A strong sunset provision was added to limit the duration of the subsidy.
sunset years
1the later years of someone's life
The last part of a person’s life, usually when they are old and often after they stop working.
- They moved closer to their grandchildren to enjoy their sunset years.
- He spent his sunset years writing and gardening.
- She hopes to travel the world in her sunset years.
from sunrise to sunset
1for the whole daylight period
From early morning when the sun comes up until evening when the sun goes down.
- During the festival, music plays from sunrise to sunset.
- During harvest season, they work from sunrise to sunset.
- Farmers used to work from sunrise to sunset in the fields.
- The park is open from sunrise to sunset.
- They walked through the desert from sunrise to sunset to avoid the cold nights.
- We spent from sunrise to sunset exploring the city.
sunset industry
1Industry in decline
A type of business that is becoming less successful or important.
- Coal mining is often called a sunset industry.
- The government is offering support to workers from sunset industries.
sunset industry
2industry in long-term decline
An industry or type of business that is slowly dying and will probably not be important in the future.
- Many consider coal mining a sunset industry in developed countries.
- The government is shifting support away from sunset industries and toward new technologies.
- Working in a sunset industry can be risky because jobs may disappear.