radiant

[ rey-dee-uhnt ]

See synonyms for: radiant radiantly on Thesaurus.com

adjective

emitting rays of light; shining; bright: the radiant sun;radiant colors.
bright with joy, hope, etc.: radiant smiles;a radiant future.

Physics. emitted or propagated by radiation.
Heraldry.
- noting a partition line having a series of flamelike indentations formed by ogees joined in zigzags; rayonny.
- (of a charge, as an ordinary) having an edge or edges so formed.

noun

a point or object from which rays proceed.
Astronomy. the point in the heavens from which a shower of meteors appears to radiate.

a refractory absorbing and radiating heat from the flames of a gas fireplace or the like.

Origin of radiant

First recorded in 1400–50; late Middle English, from Latin radiant-, stem of radiāns “shining,” present participle of radiāre “to radiate light, shine,” verb derivative of radius “beam, ray”; see radius

synonym study For radiant

1. See bright.

Other words for radiant

1	beaming, refulgent, resplendent

See synonyms for radiant on Thesaurus.com

Opposites for radiant

dim

See antonyms for radiant on Thesaurus.com

Other words from radiant

ra·di·ant·ly, adverb
an·ti·ra·di·ant, adjective
non·ra·di·ant, adjective
non·ra·di·ant·ly, adverb
su·per·ra·di·ant, adjective
un·ra·di·ant, adjective

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use radiant in a sentence

Even if you’re not able to do a complete renovation, smaller measures such as putting a thick carpet on the floor of a room over an unheated garage or installing a radiant barrier in an attic that traps summer heat can make a difference.
How to stop your house’s expensive drafts — and save the planet | Sarah Kaplan | January 27, 2021 | Washington Post
This is an America he couldn’t have imagined, so terrible in some ways, yet so radiant in others.
Inauguration Musical Performances Are Tricky. But Lady Gaga, Jennifer Lopez and Garth Brooks Did Exactly What We Needed Them to Do | Stephanie Zacharek | January 20, 2021 | Time
Those in attendance noted Washington looked “radiant,” happier than he ever had before.
At the nation’s first presidential transfer of power, George Washington was ‘radiant’ | Gillian Brockell | January 19, 2021 | Washington Post
My husband is from Michigan, and we typically spend part of the holiday season there, where the frigid, grey weather is overcome by the radiant warmth of our family and friends.
This nourishing navy bean and ham soup is a meal in a bowl | Ellie Krieger | December 3, 2020 | Washington Post
Not only was she captivating and charismatic in a way that only Henson could, but she looked radiant as ever — we’re talking makeup, that is.
Taraji P. Henson’s AMA Makeup Look Had To Complement A Whopping 10 Outfit Changes | cmurray | November 23, 2020 | Essence.com

Some of the horrors he lived through imbued his work with a radiantly pained wisdom.
Michael Musto: Lou Reed Made Me A Believer—In Transvestism, Prostitution, and Lou Reed | Michael Musto | October 28, 2013 | THE DAILY BEAST
Mixed in, that black stuff made the paint more radiantly white.
Running the Republicans | Stanley Crouch | March 6, 2009 | THE DAILY BEAST
In spite of her sharpened wits, Mrs. Kaye smiled radiantly into Isabel's guileless eyes.
Ancestors | Gertrude Atherton
She looked radiantly beautiful, and as happy as if her soul were singing a Christmas Carol.
Rosemary in Search of a Father | C. N. Williamson
Practically penniless and absolutely disillusioned, the amazing man was radiantly happy.
The Joyous Adventures of Aristide Pujol | William J. Locke
The first days of June broke radiantly over the great gorge and the woods which surround it.
Marriage la mode | Mrs. Humphry Ward
He had never seen her so radiantly debonnaire; yet her heart was full of annoying anxiety.
When Valmond Came to Pontiac, Complete | Gilbert Parker

British Dictionary definitions for radiant

radiant

/ (ˈreɪdɪənt) /

adjective

sending out rays of light; bright; shining
characterized by health, intense joy, happiness, etc: a radiant countenance

emitted or propagated by or as radiation; radiated: radiant heat
sending out heat by radiation: a radiant heater
physics (of a physical quantity in photometry) evaluated by absolute energy measurements: radiant flux; radiant efficiency Compare luminous

noun

a point or object that emits radiation, esp the part of a heater that gives out heat
astronomy the point in space from which a meteor shower appears to emanate

Origin of radiant

C15: from Latin radiāre to shine, from radius ray of light, radius

Derived forms of radiant

radiantly, adverb

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Scientific definitions for radiant

radiant

[ rā′dē-ənt ]

Adjective

Transmitting light, heat, or other radiation. Stars, for example, are radiant bodies.
Consisting of or transmitted as radiation.

Noun

The apparent celestial origin of a meteor shower. For example, a point in the constellation Gemini is the radiant of the Geminid meteor shower.

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