silver lining

noun

: a consoling or hopeful prospect

Examples of silver lining in a Sentence

If there's a silver lining to losing my job, it's that I'll now be able to go to school full-time and finish my degree earlier.
Recent Examples on the Web Showers are expected to linger throughout the day Friday in the Kansas City area, but there is a little silver lining in those storm clouds, according to the National Weather Service. Robert A. Cronkleton, Kansas City Star, 8 Mar. 2024 But Youssef, ever an optimist, sees a tiny silver lining. Alan Sepinwall, Rolling Stone, 21 Feb. 2024 But the move also comes with a lucrative silver lining: no state taxes. Eleanor Pringle, Fortune, 13 Feb. 2024 The silver lining to metro Detroit’s frigid temperatures the past few weeks? Detroit Free Press, 22 Jan. 2024 Interest On Business Loans Financing your business through loans can have a silver lining: the tax deductibility of interest payments. Barbara Schreihans, Forbes, 27 Feb. 2024 There is a silver lining in Texas’ disappointing driving data: While the state’s population grew, fatal accidents shrunk. Ella Gonzales, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 26 Feb. 2024 Losing to Colorado in double overtime was a gut punch, but the Trojans tried to find a silver lining while preparing for UCLA. Thuc Nhi Nguyen, Los Angeles Times, 23 Feb. 2024 So, the Padres latched onto any and all available silver linings. Bryce Miller, San Diego Union-Tribune, 23 Feb. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'silver lining.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

from the phrase "every cloud has a silver lining"

First Known Use

1871, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of silver lining was in 1871

Dictionary Entries Near silver lining

Cite this Entry

“Silver lining.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/silver%20lining. Accessed 18 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

silver lining

noun
: a consoling or hopeful prospect
looked for the silver lining in a bad situation
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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