Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

silver lining

Word Rarity Rare

Frequency: Zipf frequency 3.83 in modern English

Syllables: sil-ver lin-ing
IPA

16

Scrabble Score

12

Letters

3

Syllables

8

Unique Chars

Meaning

noun

A favorable aspect or prospect of a mostly unfavorable event or situation.

Example Sentences

"Was I deceived, or did a sable cloud / Turn forth her silver lining on the night? / I did not err: there does a sable cloud / Turn forth her silver lining on the night, / And casts a gleam over this tufted grove."
"The only silver lining for businesses and local residents was that there was at least an end in sight, and that the new station, once built, would enhance the area and provide improved east-west access for pedestrians."

Etymology

Originating in John Milton's poem Comus; see the quotation from 1634. The proverb every cloud has a silver lining is an allusion to the relevant passage.

Inflected Forms

silver linings (plural)

Phrases

every cloud has a silver lining every silver lining has a cloud blessing in disguise God works in mysterious ways silver plate

Frequently Paired Words

every cloud has a silver lining every silver lining has a cloud blessing in disguise God works in mysterious ways silver plate

Synonyms

bright side on the plus side eucatastrophe

Antonyms

downside drawback worm in the apple sticky wicket

Questions

What does silver lining mean?: A favorable aspect or prospect of a mostly unfavorable event or situation.
Where does silver lining come from?: Originating in John Milton's poem Comus; see the quotation from 1634. The proverb every cloud has a silver lining is an allusion to the relevant passage.

How to pronounce silver lining

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