How to Use penumbra in a Sentence

penumbra

noun
  • This is made up of the time when the Moon hits the penumbra and umbra.
    — Joshua Hawkins, BGR, 17 Nov. 2021
  • For now, we’re held in the sweet penumbra of heaviness.
    — James Parker, The Atlantic, 16 Dec. 2025
  • The big one is the penumbra, and the smaller one inside it is the umbra.
    — Phil Plait, Scientific American, 6 Mar. 2025
  • And that led her down to the upper penumbra of the theater district.
    — Christopher Bonanos, Curbed, 5 Nov. 2021
  • The umbra is much darker than the penumbra and fairly sharp-edged.
    — Joe Rao, Space.com, 9 Mar. 2025
  • The whole moon is in Earth’s penumbra, but the dimming is subtle.
    — Leigh Morgan, al, 15 May 2022
  • First contact is when the moon’s leading edge moves into the penumbra.
    — Phil Plait, Scientific American, 6 Mar. 2025
  • Sixth contact is when the moon leaves the penumbra and the eclipse is officially over.
    — Phil Plait, Scientific American, 6 Mar. 2025
  • The full moon will move into the outer part of the Earth's shadow, the penumbra.
    — Jenna Prestininzi, Detroit Free Press, 24 Mar. 2024
  • The moon will enter the outer part of the Earth’s shadow, called the penumbra.
    — Jeremy Tanner, The Hill, 8 Mar. 2025
  • The entire process should end by this time as the moon slowly exits the Earth's penumbra.
    — Eric Lagatta, USA TODAY, 1 Mar. 2025
  • Castle Sands pool sits in the penumbra of castle ruins.
    — Freya Bromley, Condé Nast Traveler, 21 Nov. 2023
  • The rest of the moon is covered by the outer part of the Earth's shadow, called the penumbra.
    — AL.com, 7 Aug. 2017
  • The penumbra is the partial outer shadow, and the umbra is the full, dark shadow.
    — Ashley Strickland, CNN, 3 May 2022
  • The penumbra is the partial outer shadow, and the umbra is the full, dark shadow.
    — Ashley Strickland, CNN, 16 July 2019
  • The entire moon is still in the penumbra, and the brightness has not entirely returned.
    — Jeremy Tanner, The Hill, 8 Mar. 2025
  • The partial outer shadow is called the penumbra; the full, dark shadow is the umbra.
    — Ashley Strickland, CNN, 5 Feb. 2023
  • The partial outer shadow is called the penumbra; the full, dark shadow is the umbra.
    — Ashley Strickland, CNN, 6 Jan. 2023
  • The partial outer shadow is called the penumbra; the full, dark shadow is the umbra.
    — Ashley Strickland, CNN Money, 31 Dec. 2025
  • The partial outer shadow is called the penumbra; the full, dark shadow is the umbra.
    — Ashley Strickland, CNN Money, 31 Jan. 2026
  • The first phase will begin when the moon enters Earth’s penumbra or outer shadow.
    — Monica Cull, Discover Magazine, 4 Mar. 2025
  • This occurs when the moon passes through the Earth’s partial shadow, or penumbra.
    — Laura Baisas, Popular Science, 15 Mar. 2023
  • This is from the Earth’s lighter shadow, called the penumbra, that is barely visible to the naked eye.
    — Dean Regas, The Enquirer, 10 May 2022
  • During many eclipse seasons, the moon merely skims Earth's penumbra and umbra.
    — Jamie Carter, Space.com, 27 Feb. 2026
  • As the moon moves into Earth’s outer shadow, called the penumbra, the dimming is subtle.
    — Newsroom Meteorologist, Austin American Statesman, 2 Mar. 2026
  • The eclipse begins with the penumbral phase, when the moon enters Earth's outer shadow, called the penumbra.
    — William Lambers, Newsweek, 10 Mar. 2025
  • The penumbra is the outer part of the Earth’s shadow, while the umbra is the deepest and darkest part of the shadow.
    — Joshua Hawkins, BGR, 17 Nov. 2021
  • The entire event then goes into reverse, with the Moon exiting the umbra, then the penumbra.
    — Jamie Carter, Forbes, 10 Nov. 2021
  • The entire event then goes into reverse, with the Moon exiting the umbra, then the penumbra.
    — Jamie Carter, Forbes, 12 May 2021
  • The penumbra, or outside edge of the Earth's shadow, covers the remaining portion of the moon.
    — Janet Loehrke, USA TODAY, 13 Sep. 2024

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

Last Updated: