luminesce

verb

Definition of luminescenext
as in to glow

Related Words

Relevance

Dissimilar Words

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of luminesce Music has charms that teem our tongues, course through our pens and luminesce up on our screens. — Richard Lederer, San Diego Union-Tribune, 31 Aug. 2019
Recent Examples of Synonyms for luminesce
  1. glow
  2. shimmer
  3. glisten
  4. gleam
  5. beam
  6. glitter
  7. glimmer
  8. shine
Verb
  • At night, the Sycamore trees glow with lantern light, inviting guests to indulge in late night cocktails and conversation.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 22 Oct. 2026
  • With glowing bats, spiders and eyes, the lights accent the historic home with just the right touch.
    — Patrick Connolly, The Orlando Sentinel, 22 Oct. 2026
Definition of glow
Verb
  • Texture takes center stage in the new drop, with plush shearling, shimmering metallics, and festive embellishments bringing a sense of lightness to the house’s signature designs.
    — Laura Jackson, Vogue, 27 Oct. 2026
  • The fabric utilized caught the camera’s flash, shimmering in green and orange hues.
    — Amina Ayoud, Footwear News, 24 Oct. 2026
Definition of shimmer
Verb
  • The familiar stars of Orion's Belt glisten to the right of McCollum's image, close to the glow of the Orion Nebula — one of the nearest major star forming regions to Earth.
    — Anthony Wood, Space.com, 23 Oct. 2026
  • In a small saucepan, heat the oil over medium heat for about 3 minutes, until glistening.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 20 Oct. 2026
Definition of glisten
Verb
  • There’s a gleaming hospital and a string of new downtown spots to supplement The Bar, the beloved dive that was supposedly among the inspirations for the Patch Café in the TV series Landman, which is set here.
    — Tim McDonnell, semafor.com, 22 Oct. 2026
  • In others, the walls are paneled in a gleaming hardwood, which sets off the furniture, upholstered in black and dark-gray velvets.
    — Kim Velsey, Curbed, 21 Oct. 2026
Definition of gleam
Verb
  • As Lubelo takes his final bow to thunderous applause, his mom beams a proud smile at the 11-year-old apprentice magician.
    — Julie Bourdin, NPR, 25 Oct. 2026
  • High school student Bella Dubrovsky beamed proudly next to her tray of artfully frosted sugar cookies.
    — Laina Gustafson, Christian Science Monitor, 21 Oct. 2026
Definition of beam
Verb
  • The glittering claims of what AI in education will do, offered by those who abandoned us in our hour of need, are not those rocks.
    — Kamau Bobb October 21, Literary Hub, 21 Oct. 2026
  • The beaches will always have that kinetic draw, sure, as do the beautiful (and still often secretive) mountain villages, glittering coves, and a very leisurely lunch scene.
    — Anna Cafolla, Vogue, 21 Oct. 2026
Definition of glitter
Verb
  • The shoes featured a stiletto heel with lace-up detailing around the ankle and glimmered slightly with a dramatic metallic finish that elevated the entire look.
    — Erin Wisti, Footwear News, 24 Oct. 2026
  • On Saturday morning, Donald Judd’s 100 Untitled Works in Mill Aluminum was glimmering in the Marfa sunshine, bathed in light with nobody to see it.
    — Nate Freeman, Vanity Fair, 16 Oct. 2026
Definition of glimmer
Verb
  • Puka Nacua shined despite entering the game questionable with a calf injury and Kyren Williams and Blake Corum combined for nearly 200 rushing yards.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 25 Oct. 2026
  • Famous fictional bad girls continue to shine on film and inspire designer runway moments.
    — Tonya Blazio-Licorish, Footwear News, 25 Oct. 2026
Definition of shine

Browse Nearby Words

luminary
luminesce
luminesced
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Luminesce.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/luminesce. Accessed 29 Oct. 2026.

Copy Citation
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of shindig

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

How to Use 'Who' vs. 'Whom'

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

The Longest Long Words List

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World

Why do we 'bury the lede?'

'Za' and 9 Other Words to Help You Win at SCRABBLE
See More

Popular

See More

How to Use 'Who' vs. 'Whom'

The Longest Long Words List

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
different halloween monsters in silhouette
A Monstrous Vocab Quiz Words That Go Bump in the Night
See All