sun is setting

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "sun is setting" is a correct and usable part of a sentence in written English.
It is a present continuous tense verb phrase that describes the action of the sun going down in the sky. You can use this phrase to describe the scene or setting of a story, to report the time of day, or to convey a specific mood or atmosphere. For example: - The sun is setting over the horizon, painting the sky in shades of pink and orange. - As the sun is setting, the temperature drops and a cool breeze sets in. - She sat on the beach, watching as the sun slowly dipped towards the water, signaling the end of another beautiful day. - The sun is setting and the city lights are beginning to twinkle, creating a magical atmosphere. - We need to hurry, the sun is setting and we still have a long hike back to camp.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

The sun is setting.

The New Yorker

Outside, the sun is setting.

The New Yorker

The sun is setting on Gaza.

The Guardian

THE sun is setting on fading empires.

The New York Times - Sports

The sun is setting when we hear the wolf.

The Guardian - Travel

The sun is setting, turning the sky crimson.

The Guardian - Travel

The sun is setting, it seems, on a vanishing world.

The New York Times

CRAWFORD, Tex., Dec. 30 -- The sun is setting on this rural corner of President Bush's empire.

The Washington Post

The sun is setting to my west/right, illuminating the right half of the moon.

The New York Times

The sun is setting over the sea and golden light catches on the waves.

Independent

The sun is setting behind them, throwing glitter across the water.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

In descriptive passages, combine it with color-based adjectives to create more vivid imagery for the reader.

Common error

Avoid using "sun is setting" in strictly technical astronomical reports where a more precise term like "solar transit" or "sunset occurs at" might be required. While grammatically correct, it can feel too narrative for scientific data.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "sun is setting" functions as a present continuous verb phrase consisting of the subject "sun" and the auxiliary verb "is" paired with the present participle "setting". As noted by Ludwig AI, it is a standard construction used to describe an ongoing action in the present moment.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

85%

Academia

8%

Encyclopedias

4%

Less common in

Formal & Business

1%

Science

1%

Wiki

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "sun is setting" is a foundational English expression that is both grammatically flawless and highly versatile. Based on the extensive data from Ludwig, we see it used across the most prestigious publications to describe everything from literal landscapes in The New Yorker to metaphorical political shifts in The New York Times. Ludwig AI confirms its status as a correct present continuous form. Whether you are writing a travel blog, a news report or a novel, this phrase effectively communicates a specific moment in time and a transitional mood. It is most effective when used to ground the reader in a specific physical environment or to provide a poetic conclusion to a narrative arc.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

the sun is going down

More informal and colloquial in tone

the sun is sinking

Adds a sense of gradual movement or weight

daylight is fading

Focuses on the loss of light rather than the sun itself

dusk is falling

Emphasizes the onset of the evening period

twilight is approaching

More formal and specific to the astronomical phase

the sun is dipping below the horizon

Provides a more precise visual or geographical description

night is drawing in

Suggests the enclosure or beginning of the nighttime

the shadows are lengthening

Uses a visual consequence of the sunset to imply the time

evening is settling

Describes the atmosphere of the day ending

the sun is descending

Uses more formal, clinical vocabulary

FAQs

How do I use "sun is setting" in a sentence?

You can use it to describe an immediate observation, such as "The "sun is setting" over the mountains right now", or as a subordinating clause like "As the "sun is setting", the temperature begins to drop".

What can I say instead of "sun is setting"?

Depending on your desired tone, you could use "the sun is going down" for a casual vibe or "daylight is fading" for something more poetic.

Is "sun is setting" or "sun is sitting" correct?

The correct phrase is "sun is setting". Using "sitting" is a common phonetic error; the sun sets (goes down), it does not sit (rest on a surface) in this context.

What is the difference between "sun is setting" and "sun has set"?

The phrase ""sun is setting"" uses the present continuous to show the action is currently happening. In contrast, "the sun has set" uses the present perfect to indicate that the action is already completed and it is now dark.