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Synonyms

beaming

American  
[bee-ming] / ˈbi mɪŋ /

adjective

  1. radiant; bright.

  2. smiling brightly; cheerful.


Other Word Forms

  • beamingly adverb
  • unbeaming adjective

Etymology

Origin of beaming

First recorded in 1660–70; beam + -ing 2

Explanation

If an object is beaming, it's glowing with light, but if a person is beaming, they're more likely to be smiling brightly. Your car's beaming headlights or the beaming eyes of your cat, glowing in the dark, are bright and radiant. That's where the other meaning of beaming, cheerful and bright, comes from. A beaming smile glows and shines with true joy. Beaming comes from the verb beam, "emit rays of light."

Keep Reading on Vocabulary.com

Vocabulary lists containing beaming

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Its logo evolved into a beaming cowboy with bright blue eyes in a wide-brimmed hat.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 12, 2026

The one that is furthest along, Galleri, was recently the subject of a provocative Super Bowl ad from the Hims & Hers telehealth company, beaming an experimental technology into millions of households.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 2, 2026

Images taken of the couple show them both beaming from ear to ear, with Perry looking every inch the chart-topping icon in a figure-hugging red dress, while Trudeau donned an all-black suit.

From MarketWatch • Feb. 23, 2026

As one beaming face follows the next, Ms Pelicot, for the first time, wipes away a tear.

From BBC • Feb. 14, 2026

As the stone door closed behind him, Taran saw King Eiddileg fondling his head and beaming happily.

From "The Book of Three" by Lloyd Alexander