as in glow
the steady giving off of the form of radiation that makes vision possible
we could see inside the cave even without a flashlight because of the luminescence coming from some of the fungus on the walls
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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 luminescence
Highlighter applied to the inner corners of the eyes and just above the Cupid’s bow offers your look an angelic luminescence.
—
Calin Van Paris, Vogue, 12 Aug. 2025
Stratus clouds are gray layers, sometimes with variances in their luminescence.
—Noel Kirkpatrick, Treehugger, 7 Aug. 2025
Rosas and cinematographer Paulo Menezes shoot Lisbon’s streetlife, nightlife and even its quiet cemetery parks with the breezy, sauntering flow of Eric Rohmer’s Paris, and occasionally the hot-to-the-touch luminescence of Wong Kar-wai’s Hong Kong.
—Guy Lodge, Variety, 10 July 2025
Rabil’s luminescence has shown few signs of dimming, which doesn’t surprise former Johns Hopkins teammate and lacrosse icon Kyle Harrison.
—Edward Lee, Baltimore Sun, 20 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for luminescence
Calin Van Paris, Vogue, 12 Aug. 2025
Stratus clouds are gray layers, sometimes with variances in their luminescence.
—Noel Kirkpatrick, Treehugger, 7 Aug. 2025
Rosas and cinematographer Paulo Menezes shoot Lisbon’s streetlife, nightlife and even its quiet cemetery parks with the breezy, sauntering flow of Eric Rohmer’s Paris, and occasionally the hot-to-the-touch luminescence of Wong Kar-wai’s Hong Kong.
—Guy Lodge, Variety, 10 July 2025
Rabil’s luminescence has shown few signs of dimming, which doesn’t surprise former Johns Hopkins teammate and lacrosse icon Kyle Harrison.
—Edward Lee, Baltimore Sun, 20 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for luminescence
Recent Examples of Synonyms for luminescence
Noun
-
This time, the drama steps beyond the fluorescent glow of Pierpoint’s trading floor and into a broader, more unsettling social landscape.—
Chloe Laws,
Condé Nast Traveler,
23 Jan. 2026
-
Regina was standing by the window now, looking even more gaunt under the artificial light of the bulb behind her and the faint glow of the sunrise in front, which barely managed to filter through the balcony awning.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
22 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Under the roof — with the glare gone, the temperature easing across the third and fourth sets and the radiated heat from the court plummeting — the momentum swung.—
John Pye,
Baltimore Sun,
24 Jan. 2026
-
Originally a bright photography studio with skylights, the room was transformed into a low-light space to eliminate glare on the digital screens and Wacom tablets used for ZBrush sculpting.—
Robert Lang,
Deadline,
23 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Witnesses report that other vehicles besides Good's were blockading unmarked immigration agent vehicles with their emergency LED lights activated.—
Dana Kelley,
Arkansas Online,
9 Jan. 2026
-
Choose from four neutral colors—classic black, chocolate brown, light pink, or a creamy white—to add to your wardrobe rotation.—
Mariana Best,
Better Homes & Gardens,
9 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
When the action rises in intensity, this gleam gathers quickly to a fiery glow of tragic power.—
Richard Brody,
New Yorker,
17 Jan. 2026
-
Your 4th House of Traditions gleams under today’s Full Moon, so private needs are potentially straining against public duties.—
Tarot.com,
New York Daily News,
3 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
One of the most magical ways to experience the Eiffel Tower doesn't require a ticket; simply watch the nightly illuminations, when the landmark sparkles for five minutes every hour, on the hour.—
Todd Plummer,
Condé Nast Traveler,
22 Jan. 2026
-
As that title suggests, the overarching theme is illumination of various sorts, including the natural and the cerebral.—
Randy McMullen,
Mercury News,
22 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Luminescence.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/luminescence. Accessed 29 Jan. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
