luminaries

NOUN

very important person

Synonyms

STRONGEST

celebrity dignitary notable personage superstar

STRONG

VIP eminence leader lion name notability personality somebody star worthy

WEAK

big name celeb

Antonyms

STRONG

nobody

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Other luminaries, such as the educational reformer Emily Davies and the suffragist Emmeline Pankhurst, actually step out from the background chatter to become major players.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 26, 2026

Here’s an idea for next year’s opening night gala: Reassemble these luminaries for a concert version of a musical and watch them scale new heights together.

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 22, 2026

Pope Leo recently issued an encyclical on AI that built on the work last September of a panel of Nobel laureates, tech specialists and other luminaries the Vatican had assembled.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 19, 2026

They had urgent questions about elections for Bondi, then-DHS Secretary Kristi Noem and other luminaries who had promised to appear at the event.

From Salon • Apr. 14, 2026

Inside that circle are the homes of Raphael, Michelangelo, Botticelli—and the list of luminaries goes on.

From "The Mona Lisa Vanishes" by Nicholas Day