Sunbeams peeked through the clouds.

Meaning: The sunlight was breaking through the clouds and becoming visible.

Choice of Words: Sunbeams are rays of sunlight. Peeked is a verb that means to look quickly or shyly. Through indicates the path that the sunbeams are taking. Clouds are visible masses of water droplets or ice crystals suspended in the atmosphere.

Alternative Expressions

The sun's rays emerged from behind the clouds.

Meaning: This also means that the sun was shining after being hidden by the clouds. It's like saying, The sun appeared after being hidden by the clouds.

Choice of Words: The sun's rays are the lines of light from the sun. Emerged means to come out of something. From behind means to come out of the back of something. Clouds are the white or gray things in the sky that can make rain or snow. When you put it all together, the sentence means that the sun's rays came out from behind the clouds.

Golden rays of sunlight filtered through the gaps in the clouds.

Meaning: This means that the sun was shining through the clouds, but not all at once. It's like saying, The sun's rays were slowly coming through the spaces between the clouds.

Choice of Words: Golden rays means the sun's rays that are yellow and bright like gold. Filtered means to pass through something slowly. Gaps are the spaces between things. Clouds are the white or gray things in the sky that can make rain or snow. When you put it all together, the sentence means that the sun's rays were shining through the spaces between the clouds.

Related Expressions