radiant

American  

[rey-dee-uhnt] / ˈreɪ di ənt /

adjective

1. emitting rays of light; shining; bright.

   the radiant sun;

   radiant colors.

   Synonyms:

   resplendent, refulgent, beaming

   Antonyms:

   dim

2. bright with joy, hope, etc..

   radiant smiles;

   a radiant future.

3. Physics. emitted or propagated by radiation.

4. Heraldry.

   1. noting a partition line having a series of flamelike indentations formed by ogees joined in zigzags; rayonny.

   2. (of a charge, as an ordinary) having an edge or edges so formed.

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noun

1. a point or object from which rays proceed.

2. Astronomy. the point in the heavens from which a shower of meteors appears to radiate.

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

radiant British  

/ ˈreɪdɪənt /

adjective

1. sending out rays of light; bright; shining

2. characterized by health, intense joy, happiness, etc

   a radiant countenance

3. emitted or propagated by or as radiation; radiated

   radiant heat

4. sending out heat by radiation

   a radiant heater

5. physics (of a physical quantity in photometry) evaluated by absolute energy measurements Compare luminous

   radiant flux

   radiant efficiency

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noun

1. a point or object that emits radiation, esp the part of a heater that gives out heat

2. astronomy the point in space from which a meteor shower appears to emanate

radiant Scientific  

/ rā′dē-ənt /

1. Transmitting light, heat, or other radiation. Stars, for example, are radiant bodies.

2. Consisting of or transmitted as radiation.

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

Related Words

See bright.

Other Word Forms

• antiradiant adjective
• nonradiant adjective
• nonradiantly adverb
• radiantly adverb
• superradiant adjective
• unradiant adjective

Etymology

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”; radius

Example Sentences

The painting’s full-length figures, like those in Old Master official portraits, are here translated into a contemporary vernacular, with a radiant Aline Charigot, Renoir’s future wife, in the arms of his friend Paul Lhote.

From The Wall Street Journal

"She is genuinely the most kind, caring and compassionate young girl, who brightened everyone's day with her radiant smile and infectious laugh."

From Barron's

“It used to come up occasionally, but now it’s part of almost every consultation. I’ve seen confident, radiant women start hiding under hats because they don’t feel like themselves anymore.”

From Los Angeles Times

Tilly’s creation begins with a single prompt on Feb. 9, 2025: “A stunning female celebrity with global appeal. She has symmetrical facial features, clear radiant skin, and captivating green eyes. Her hair is long.”

From The Wall Street Journal

Though Kelly is not nearly as funny as Cameron Diaz in “The Holiday,” she’s a leading lady both radiant and relatable.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• beaming
• brilliant
• gleaming
• glittering
• glowing
• incandescent
• lustrous
• resplendent
• shining
• sunny