gem

1 of 3

noun

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

Example Sentences

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
But the real gem of the box was the Soul & Smoke BBQ spice rub. Megan Wahn, Bon Appétit, 28 Feb. 2023 With gorgeous parks, historic farms, and cozy cafes, this historic coastal gem is one of the state's most treasured towns. Karla Pope, Country Living, 5 Feb. 2023 Another underrated gem in Lee's filmography is this street-level thriller adapted from Richard Price's novel of the same name. Elliott Smith, EW.com, 3 Feb. 2023 The gem among that group is five-star and No. 1 overall receiver Zachariah Branch, an electric talent whose skillset has been likened to All-Pro NFL wideout Tyreek Hill. Los Angeles Times, 2 Feb. 2023 This underrated gem is like Sherlock Holmes, but with animals. Stacey Grant, Seventeen, 18 Jan. 2023 The real gem, however, is the location on the canal with a dock, a spot to keep a boat and beach access. Lauren Beale, Forbes, 28 Dec. 2022 Highly recommended Tan: An improvement from last year’s vintage, this gem is easier to find on shelves since most consumers don’t know about Gigondas wines. Tan Vinh And Owen Bargreen, Anchorage Daily News, 16 Dec. 2022 Dutch heritage, the banded agate Zebra with a diamond headdress and the gem-set 'Vitrail Fleur-de-Lys' that is reminiscent of stained glass windows. Stellene Volandes, Town & Country, 4 May 2022
Verb
Consider this Tata Harper gem the fountain of youth in oil form. Nerisha Penrose, ELLE, 29 Nov. 2022 Pakistan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan have also laid claim to gem as well, which was the possession of many rulers, including India’s Mughal emperors, before coming into the hands of the British monarchy. Niha Masih, Washington Post, 13 Oct. 2022 Will Pacific Northwest gem Seattle rank No. 1 or will the elite mountain town of Boulder, Colo., take the top spot? Los Angeles Times, 8 Sep. 2022 This annual celebration of natural wine and pizza, held in the spacious garden behind Park View gem Sonny’s, is a chance to try pairing a wide variety of organic and natural wines and ciders with New York-style slices, while listening to a DJ. Washington Post, 13 Dec. 2020 Other options include having a piece of jewelry entirely stone set or partially gem set, depending on the piece. Roberta Naas, Forbes, 1 Nov. 2021 Enjoy the historic downtown, which is home to artisanal preserves gem American Spoon, former Hemingway haunt Stafford's Perry Hotel, and upscale kitchen and bar Pour. Katy Spratte Joyce, Travel + Leisure, 7 July 2021 An old-fashioned beefsteak tomato meets kewpie mayo, smoked bacon, and gem lettuce. Nick Rallo, Dallas News, 2 July 2021 The massive watch, jewelry and gem trade show that had been operating since 1917 died a slow and painful death in 2020 with the exit of key brands, including Rolex, Patek Philippe and Swatch Group and LVMH brands. Carol Besler, Forbes, 23 June 2021 See More

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'gem.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

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

Time Traveler
The first known use of gem was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near gem

Cite this Entry

“Gem.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/gem. Accessed 30 Mar. 2023.

Kids Definition

gem

noun
ˈjem
1
b
: a usually valuable stone cut and polished for ornament
2
: something prized as being beautiful or perfect
gem verb

More from Merriam-Webster on gem

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