tanning

noun

tan·​ning ˈta-niŋ 

1

: a browning of the skin especially by exposure to sun

2

: the art or process by which a skin is tanned

3

: a sound spanking

4

: a natural darkening and hardening of the cuticle of an insect immediately after molting

Examples of tanning in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Where tanning used to sit outside the core skincare conversation, it is now integrated into routines and measured in quality, not colour depth. —Kate Hardcastle, Forbes.com, 19 Apr. 2025

The rest of the crew chills on the beach, swimming and tanning and trying to recover their sanities. —Rafaela Bassili, Vulture, 15 Apr. 2025

Absolutely, but again, don’t expect your sunscreen to completely block tanning. —Catharine Malzahn, Glamour, 11 Apr. 2025

In early modern Europe, the filthiest trades (such as tanning) were branded nuisances and forced out of cities and closer to those living at society’s margins. —Scott W. Stern, The Atlantic, 10 Mar. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Phrases Containing tanning

• tanning bed
• tanning booth

Rhymes for tanning

• panning
• planing
• planning
• scanning
• spanning
• preplanning
• replanning
• scintiscanning

Kids Definition

tanning

noun

tan·​ning

ˈtan-iŋ

1

: the art or process by which an animal skin is tanned

2

: a browning of the skin especially by exposure to the sun

3

: a usually severe whipping

Medical Definition

tanning

noun

tan·​ning ˈtan-iŋ 

: a browning of the skin by exposure to sun