Sky: meaning, definitions and examples

Use in everyday conversation to refer to the area above the earth where clouds and the sun are visible.

• The sky is clear today.
• Birds are flying in the sky.

Use in religious or poetic contexts to refer to the sky or a divine place where gods or spiritual beings reside.

• The heavens opened and rain poured down.
• Prayers were sent up to the heavens.

Use in poetic or literary contexts to refer to the sky, the heavens, or the vault of heaven, often suggesting something grand or timeless.

• Stars twinkled in the firmament.
• The firmament stretched out endlessly above us.

Use in poetic or romantic contexts to evoke an image of the sky as a grand dome or arched structure.

• Stars glittered in the vault of heaven.
• He gazed up at the majestic vault of heaven.

Commonly used in everyday conversation and writing to refer to the atmosphere above the Earth. Suitable for both informal and formal contexts.

• The sky is so clear today.
• We watched the sunset and admired the sky.

Used to describe something above the speaker or observer's head, not limited to the sky. Common in both everyday conversation and descriptive writing.

• Birds flew overhead.
• There was a plane flying far overhead.

A more poetic or literary term to describe the heavens or the sky. Often found in literature, poetry, or religious contexts.

• The stars twinkled in the vast firmament.
• He contemplated the mysteries of the firmament.

An archaic or grandiose term that evokes a sense of grandeur or divine aspect of the sky. Often used in classical literature or dramatic speech.

• He gazed upon the vault of heaven with wonder.
• The night spread its dark mantle over the vault of heaven.

Use 'sky' in more poetic or descriptive contexts to evoke imagery of the upper atmosphere or celestial events; it's often used to capture a sense of wonder or vastness.

• Birds were flying across the evening sky.
• The sky turned a brilliant shade of orange at sunset.

Use 'launch' when referring to the initiation of something, especially starting projects, businesses, or sending objects into the air or space. This word often carries a sense of beginning or introduction.

• They plan to launch the new product next month.
• The rocket will launch at dawn.

Use 'elevate' when discussing raising something to a higher position, figuratively or literally. It's often used in contexts involving improvement, status, or lifting something up gently.

• This new program will elevate our team's performance.
• They elevated the platform for better visibility.

Use 'hoist' when referring to lifting something heavy or substantial, especially with the help of a mechanical device. It often implies a significant effort.

• The workers hoisted the heavy beams into place.
• We need to hoist the sails before we set sail.