gem

1 of 3

noun

ˈjem 

1

a

: jewel

b

: a precious or sometimes semiprecious stone cut and polished for ornament

2

a

: something prized especially for great beauty or perfection

b

: a highly prized or well-beloved person

3

: muffin

gem

2 of 3

verb

gemmed; gemming

transitive verb

: to adorn with or as if with gems

GEM

3 of 3

abbreviation

ground-effect machine

Synonyms of gem

Noun

• jewel
• rock

Examples of gem in a Sentence

Noun

The house is a gem of colonial architecture.

He pitched a gem of a game.

Her most recent novel is a real gem.

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

From the Black Jazz [Records] label comes this gem that reminds me of Rubba Dub jazz, Jazz of the African Americans that yearn for their roots in Africa through a western form of blues called jazz. — Liza Lentini, SPIN, 17 July 2026

Ridley Scott One of the best late-career films from an all-time master, this sci-fi gem sees Matt Damon playing an astronaut who gets stranded on Mars and has to use his ingenuity to get home. — Brian Tallerico, Vulture, 17 July 2026

Verb

While Uzbeks often gem their plovs with raisins and chickpeas, Karakalpaks use only root vegetables and a shimmer of cottonseed oil—a reflection of scarcity in a dish usually defined by abundance. — Michael Snyder, Saveur, 11 Mar. 2026

These Amazon gems clock in under $25, but don’t let the price tag fool you — each one is clever, practical, and just indulgent enough to feel special. — Chaise Sanders, Travel + Leisure, 24 Nov. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English gemme, from Anglo-French, from Latin gemma bud, gem

First Known Use

Noun

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Verb

1610, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for gem

• clem
• em
• femme
• hem
• phlegm
• rem
• stem
• them
• atm
• diadem
• ibidem
• meristem

Kids Definition

gem

noun

ˈjem

1

a

: jewel entry 1

b

: a usually valuable stone cut and polished for ornament

2

: something prized as being beautiful or perfect

gem verb