glorious
Americanadjective
-
delightful; wonderful; completely enjoyable.
to have a glorious time at the circus.
- Antonyms:
- disgusting, unpleasant
-
conferring glory.
a glorious victory.
-
full of glory; entitled to great renown.
England is glorious in her poetry.
- Synonyms:
- distinguished, eminent, celebrated, noted, illustrious, renowned, famed, famous
- Antonyms:
- unknown
-
brilliantly beautiful or magnificent; splendid.
a glorious summer day.
-
Archaic. blissfully drunk.
adjective
-
having or full of glory; illustrious
-
conferring glory or renown
a glorious victory
-
brilliantly beautiful
-
delightful or enjoyable
-
informal drunk
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of glorious
First recorded in 1300–50; Middle English, from Anglo-French, Old French glorieus, from Latin glōriōsus; equivalent to glory + -ous
Explanation
When something is fabulous and wonderful it can be described as glorious, like the glorious sight of the first flowers in your yard after a long, cold winter. The adjective glorious comes from the Latin word gloriosus, which means “full of glory,” or “famous.” What are some glorious things? The Grand Canyon, the Golden Gate Bridge, an Olympian's athleticism, the towering skyscrapers of New York City, autumn sunlight filtering through a forest of changing leaves, and the list goes on. If it is beautiful, amazing, fantastic and awe-inspiring, it’s glorious.
Vocabulary lists containing glorious
"Beowulf," Vocabulary from the epic poem
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
"A Sound of Thunder" by Ray Bradbury
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
Sojourner Truth's "Ain't I A Woman?" (1863)
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
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.
But Finch, 59, anchored a band whose calling card was thrilling, glorious bluntness.
From Salon ● Jul. 21, 2026
Many of Mr. Nolan’s set pieces are marvelous, even glorious.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 15, 2026
Amid the off-the-field turmoil at the club, Bellingham has not been able to match the form or prolific goalscoring of that glorious first season.
From BBC ● Jul. 11, 2026
Oh, and hundreds of her works fill the screen, a magnificent and vibrant tour through her glorious career.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 7, 2026
It was as if a band of Italian days had come from the South, like a flock of glorious passenger birds, and lighted to rest them on the cliffs of Albion.
From "Jane Eyre" by Charlotte Brontë
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
