# radiant

/ˈɹeɪˌdiənt/ (US) · /ɹˈeɪdiənt/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/radiant
Updated: 2026-08-08

## Senses

### 1. glowing with light or heat

adjective · CEFR B2

sending out light or heat in a way that is bright and warm.

For teachers: emitting light or heat through radiation; shining brightly.

- The radiant sun warmed the beach early in the morning.
- The radiant heat from the fireplace was enough to warm the entire living room despite the freezing temperatures outside.

### 2. showing great happiness

adjective · CEFR B2

looking very happy, healthy, or full of love.

For teachers: manifesting great joy, love, or health through one's facial expression or physical appearance.

- She looked radiant in her white dress on her wedding day.
- The winner gave a radiant smile to the cameras, clearly overwhelmed by the unexpected victory.

### 3. emitted as radiation

adjective · CEFR C1 · Technical

describing energy that travels in waves, like heat from a heater.

For teachers: transmitted or emitted by radiation rather than conduction or convection.

- The new heating system uses radiant energy to keep the floors warm.
- Scientists measured the radiant flux of the star to determine its total energy output over the course of a year.

### 4. origin of a meteor shower

noun · CEFR C2 · Technical

the point in the sky where a group of shooting stars seems to start.

For teachers: the point in the celestial sphere from which the paths of meteors in a shower appear to originate.

- To see the meteors, look toward the radiant in the constellation Perseus.
- Observers noted that the radiant of the meteor shower shifted slightly as the Earth moved through the debris field.

## Examples

- The bride looked radiant as she walked down the aisle.
- The morning sun cast a radiant light across the valley, waking the sleeping village.
- Her radiant smile immediately put the nervous interviewees at ease, transforming the sterile office into a space of warmth and genuine connection.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.