How to Use sunburn in a Sentence

sunburn

1 of 2 verb
  • The crowd — sunburned and dust-covered — was ready to let loose.
    Ana Gutierrez, Austin American Statesman, 18 Oct. 2025
  • He was sunburned and in shock, still wearing the same clothes from the fire.
    Tim Arango, New York Times, 23 Aug. 2023
  • Some body parts are more likely to get sunburned than others.
    Claire Gillespie, Health, 27 Feb. 2023
  • Your eyes, like your skin, can get sunburned when they’re exposed to too much sunlight.
    Korin Miller, SELF, 1 Nov. 2018
  • Grapes can also dry out when sunburned, which can result in brown, bitter wines.
    Sofia Andrade, Washington Post, 31 Aug. 2023
  • By the finale, I was sunburned, exhausted and low-key in awe.
    Ana Gutierrez, Austin American Statesman, 18 Oct. 2025
  • The child’s head, sunburned under the blond velvet, rested on the woman’s strong arm.
    Lauren Groff, The New Yorker, 9 July 2017
  • If Tuohy were running barefoot, the bottom of her feet might be sunburned by the end of a long race.
    Matthew Futterman, New York Times, 8 June 2018
  • His lips were sunburned after spending three days leading a group down the Rio Grande.
    Rachel Monroe, New Yorker, 14 May 2026
  • Taking out a lot of branches in the summer also risks the tree being exposed to sun scald or sunburn.
    Amaris Encinas, The Arizona Republic, 23 June 2022
  • Be sure to skip areas that have wounds or cuts, as well as areas that are sunburned or already irritated.
    Sherri Gordon, Health, 26 Sep. 2025
  • Soon after, a sweaty set of meaty, sunburned shoulders disappeared into the back of the building.
    Dallasnews.com Staff, Dallas News, 15 June 2023
  • Catch it in the early afternoon in the summer or fall, and you’re bound to get sweaty and perhaps even a little sunburned.
    Jason Mastrodonato, Mercury News, 3 Nov. 2025
  • The line between sun-kissed and sunburned, one of the summer’s most alluring and dangerous games, is a thin one.
    Mackenzie Wagoner, Vogue, 12 Aug. 2017
  • Lulled by the strong weed, the sun, and my father, Linda stayed outside too long and got horribly sunburned.
    Nancy Walecki, The Atlantic, 7 Aug. 2025
  • Harsh sunlight and excessive temperatures can cause blooms to sunburn and turn brown.
    Mary Marlowe Leverette, Southern Living, 13 June 2026
  • Thank you for being a lifer, for being a shirtless, sunburned troubadour, for your friendship, your songs and all the laughs.
    Jessica Nicholson, Billboard, 23 Sep. 2025
  • The guns provide a superficial measure, the report noted, that can vary if a person is sunburned or has just come in from outside.
    BostonGlobe.com, 19 May 2020
  • Known for its healing and calming properties that help put cuts, burns, and sunburns at ease, aloe (Aloe vera) is a helpful plant to have around.
    Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 28 Nov. 2025
  • Everyone gets sunburned, but really, everyone turns out fine.
    Marah Eakin, Vulture, 11 Sep. 2025
  • Shnaider’s parents were concerned that the fair-haired daughter would get sunburned on the courts, but caps and visors reportedly obstructed her view.
    Rosemary Feitelberg, Footwear News, 4 June 2026
  • Ultraviolet rays from the sun cause sunburns and can increase your risk for skin cancer over time, the CDC says.
    Allie Kelly, Dallas News, 15 June 2023
  • All four divers were sunburned and dehydrated, but otherwise uninjured.
    Abigail Adams, Peoplemag, 16 Aug. 2023
  • Made from quick-drying 100 percent polyester, the lightweight top is built for water sports, trips to the beach, or lounging by the pool — and you won’t get sunburned.
    Phoebe Sklansky, Peoplemag, 16 June 2023
  • Bear in mind, however, that some things aren’t worth the risk such as getting sunburned after slathering on old sunscreen or developing a rash from a skin serum that’s gone bad.
    Mary Cornetta, Better Homes & Gardens, 19 Dec. 2025
  • Upon rescue, officials said the man was out of water, severely sunburned and only had a small light without other supplies.
    Abigail Celaya, The Arizona Republic, 15 Aug. 2023
  • There may be lingering pain, soreness, or sensitivity after a tattoo, which can feel similar to sunburn or a bruise.
    Lucy Diavolo, Teen Vogue, 2 Jan. 2019
  • But too much time spent basking in the sun’s ultraviolet rays can lead to sunburn and increase the risk of developing skin cancer, cataracts and wrinkles.
    Roni Dengler, Discover Magazine, 25 Sep. 2018
  • Bear in mind, however, that some things aren’t worth the risk, such as getting sunburned after slathering on old sunscreen or developing a rash from a skin serum that’s gone bad.
    Mary Cornetta, Better Homes & Gardens, 19 June 2026
  • Light- or short-coated dogs can get sunburned, so ask your vet for recommendations on canine sunscreen because some human sunscreens are toxic if your pet licks them off.
    Arricca Sansone, Country Living, 12 Feb. 2019

sunburn

2 of 2 noun
  • He has a bad sunburn.
  • Use sunscreen to prevent sunburn.
  • And is there anything worse than a bad sunburn?
    Matt Reigle Outkick, FOXNews.com, 27 May 2026
  • Skip the sunburn, and let your hair go bright red instead of your skin.
    Kaitlyn Yarborough, Southern Living, 13 June 2026
  • Red or purple leaves are often a sign of sunburn.
    Madeline Buiano, Martha Stewart, 8 Feb. 2026
  • Leave low branches on the tree to protect the trunk from sunburn.
    Nan Sterman, San Diego Union-Tribune, 3 July 2021
  • No one wants to ruin a trip with a bad (and preventable) sunburn.
    Rachel King, Fortune, 28 May 2022
  • Spending too much time in the sun can cause many health problems aside from sunburn.
    Maggie O'Neill, Verywell Health, 18 June 2026
  • But don't overdo it, as jade plants can get sunburn from too-harsh direct sun.
    Madeline Buiano, Martha Stewart, 29 Jan. 2026
  • Red leaves on an aloe vera plant are a sign of too much sun, and direct light can cause sunburn.
    Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 22 Feb. 2026
  • Block, run and catch Allar smiled through a mild sunburn when asked about the team’s tight ends.
    Travis Johnson, Chicago Tribune, 21 Aug. 2023
  • My forehead makeup had long since wiped off, giving way to a fresh sunburn.
    Jihan Forbes, Allure, 26 Aug. 2022
  • This home remedy can also be used to soothe sunburns.
    Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 12 Dec. 2025
  • This home remedy can also be used to soothe sunburns.
    Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 13 May 2026
  • His sunburn was itchy, not painful, and lasted an hour or two, sometimes a little more.
    Lisa Sanders, M.d., New York Times, 6 July 2023
  • And trendy sunburn tattoos are no exception to this rule.
    Melissa Willets, Parents, 21 Aug. 2025
  • But too much of a good thing can cause the plant to get sunscald–the plant equivalent of a sunburn.
    Lauren David, Southern Living, 29 May 2026
  • Don't even think about heading out without sunscreen—a sunburn will make the heat wave much worse.
    Katie Bowlby, Country Living, 20 June 2023
  • But on the flipside, all that time outdoors can also mean sunburns, skinned knees, and bug bites.
    Kara Nesvig, Parents, 5 Aug. 2025
  • If your sunburn does not improve after a day or two or worsens, see a healthcare provider.
    Sherri Gordon, Health, 19 Aug. 2025
  • Boat shoes, collared shirt, sunburn, tan around sunglasses, pasty, red hair.
    Julyssa Lopez, Rolling Stone, 2 Sep. 2025
  • Pair with a few crisp pillows and nothing could feel better on a day’s worth of sunburn (well, maybe aloe).
    Julia Harrison, Architectural Digest, 9 Mar. 2026
  • White bodies in various stages of sunburn and tan splash in the pool, move around its perimeter.
    Lesley Finn, Longreads, 7 July 2022
  • There was no sun protection, but there was baby oil and sunburn; oh, so much sunburn.
    Kristin Auble, Vogue, 21 Aug. 2023
  • Of course, the best thing is to not allow the sunburn to happen in the first place—here’s how to make that happen.
    Lindy Segal, Glamour, 5 May 2021
  • To protect dogs from sunburns, offer easy access to shade when outside.
    Kelli Bender, Peoplemag, 3 Aug. 2023
  • Don’t be surprised if, for the first hour or so after treatment, your face looks quite red and feels like a bad sunburn.
    Jamie Wilson, Harper's BAZAAR, 25 July 2022
  • Some developed a blistering rash that looked like a bad sunburn.
    Erika Edwards, NBC news, 31 May 2026
  • One of the biggest risk factors for melanoma is previous sunburn.
    Andrea Atkins, Anchorage Daily News, 17 Apr. 2023
  • Once again, the goal here is to reduce your exposure to sunburns across your life span, Hawk says.
    Erin Prater, Fortune Well, 20 Mar. 2023

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

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