ENGLISH
REFERENCE

incandescent

adj.
C1 Advanced US //ˌɪnkənˈdɛsənt// UK //ˌɪnkɐndˈɛsənt// in·can·des·cent

adj. giving out a lot of bright light because something is very hot. It can also describe a person who is feeling extremely angry.

adj. emitting light as a result of being heated; by extension, characterized by intense emotion or brilliance. Often used predicatively to describe extreme anger.


SIMPLE

The old light bulb gave off a warm, incandescent glow.

CONTEXTUAL

He was absolutely incandescent with rage when he found out they had lied to him.

COMPLEX

The artist's later works are known for their incandescent colors, which seem to vibrate with an internal energy that transcends the flat surface of the canvas.

Synonyms
Origin

Borrowed from French incandescent, from Latin incandescens, from incandesco (“be heated, glow”), from in- (intensifying prefix) + candesco (“become white”), from candidus (“white”).

Usage

Often follows a linking verb like 'be' or 'become' when describing an emotional state.

© 2026 English Reference