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

Nevada City in the Sierra foothills is another gem, where historic streets host artisan shops and intimate theaters. —Amplified Content Studio, Mercury News, 7 Jan. 2026

For as many times as a restaurant can be unsurprising, there are the gems that can turn an everyday ingredient or an unsuspecting meal into something unforgettable. —Sunny Hubler, Charlotte Observer, 5 Jan. 2026

Verb

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

Twists and turns happen from there, and the soundtrack is laced with Tropicália gems from the 1970s. —Christian Blauvelt, IndieWire, 16 Oct. 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
• chernozem
• diadem
• ibidem

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