phosphorescent

adjective

phos·pho·res·cent ˌfäs-fə-ˈre-sᵊnt

: exhibiting phosphorescence

phosphorescently adverb

Example Sentences

Recent Examples on the Web The matte, phosphorescent sigils painted onto his robe appeared to palpitate in the low light. —

Kent Russell, Harper's Magazine, 11 May 2022 The phosphorescent nail polish is designed to have a milky appearance during the daytime, so finish with a layer of regular top coat for a glossier effect. —

Sarah Maberry, ELLE, 25 Apr. 2023 Crosby, too, felt like an emissary for a different sort of American sound, more spectral, almost phosphorescent. —

Amanda Petrusich, The New Yorker, 24 Jan. 2023 The right and left hemispheres glowed like the phosphorescent wings of a Luna moth. —

Cheri Lucas Rowlands, Longreads, 31 Oct. 2022 According to Young, an OLED iPad makes sense because the panel’s performance will improve in the next few years thanks to tandem stacks, phosphorescent blue emitters, and more. —

Chris Smith, BGR, 12 Dec. 2022 Some of her flying, lavalike monsters were lacquered black; others were colored bright red and pink; still others were coated in phosphorescent pigment — echoes of the thrilling fun house of her childhood. —

Sasha Weiss Sasha Weiss Photographs By Justin French Nick Haramis Photographs By Lise Sarfati Styled By Suzanne Koller Adam Bradley Photographs By D’angelo Lovell Williams Styled By Ian Bradley Susan Dominus Photographs By Luis Alberto Rodriguez Styled By Charlotte Collet, New York Times, 13 Oct. 2022 In sequence three, Searcher and the dog explore their new surroundings, the phosphorescent landscape looking like a coral refer painted bright pink. —

John Hopewell, Variety, 17 June 2022 The sandy cavities of the bunkers were lightly dusted with snow and looked phosphorescent. —

Colin Barrett, Harper’s Magazine , 16 Mar. 2022 See More

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

Word History

First Known Use

1767, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler

The first known use of phosphorescent was in 1767

See more words from the same year

Dictionary Entries Near phosphorescent

phosphorescence

phosphorescent

phosphoreted

See More Nearby Entries

Cite this Entry

Style

“Phosphorescent.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/phosphorescent. Accessed 13 Jul. 2023.

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