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
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.
How exactly those shifts will manifest themselves in practice, however, remains to be seen, and some of those changes may even end up having silver linings. Mary Foley, Forbes, 16 Dec. 2024 McNulty placed his highlights of Southern California theater in alphabetical order after a short essay on how theater proved to be the silver lining of 2024 — the year that many folks, and theater itself, seemed to finally shake off a post-pandemic malaise. Jessica Gelt, Los Angeles Times, 13 Dec. 2024 Jennifer Tilly is finding the silver lining in her divorce. Esther Kang, People.com, 4 Dec. 2024 The silver lining in Trump’s rapid-fire cabinet selection process is that not all his choices are unqualified arsonists who want to blow up government. Reader Commentary, Baltimore Sun, 1 Dec. 2024 See all Example Sentences for silver lining 

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 23 Dec. 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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