What does sunburned mean?
Sunburned describes skin that has become red, tender, or irritated after exposure to sunlight; it can also function as a verb meaning to develop sunburn. The word is especially common in North American English, while British English normally uses sunburnt for both forms. A mild sunburn produces redness and discomfort, whereas more severe exposure can cause swelling, blistering, and additional skin damage. Although the visible redness often fades within several days, sunburn reflects potentially harmful ultraviolet exposure and increases the risk of premature skin aging and skin cancer. In sentences such as "They got sunburned at the beach," sunburned functions as a predicate adjective describing their condition. As a verb, forms such as "I have sunburned" describe the experience or result of spending time in strong sunlight without adequate protection.
Having skin that is reddened, tender, or irritated by exposure to sunlight.
"Her sunburned shoulders were uncomfortable before she applied a cooling lotion."
The adjective may describe a person's skin or the person as a whole.
To develop reddened, tender, or irritated skin through exposure to sunlight.
"The hikers sunburned despite the cloudless afternoon."
This verb is commonly used in the perfect tense: "have sunburned."
A sunburn may fade in days, but the UV damage that caused it can persist for years.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does sunburned come from?
The word is formed from the Old English words sunne, meaning "sun," and burnan, meaning "to burn," both of which have Germanic roots. Sunburn arose as a compound referring to skin damaged by sunlight, and sunburned was formed as its North American adjectival and verbal inflection. The British form sunburnt reflects the same compound but uses the ending -t common in British spelling.
Related word forms
How sunburned is actually used
As an adjective, the word describes the condition of the skin or a person who has it. As a verb, it is normally used in the perfect tense, as in "have sunburned," rather than as a simple past-tense action.
Easily confused with sunburned
Sunburnt is the usual British spelling, while sunburned is the usual North American spelling; both have the same meaning.