glory

American  

[glawr-ee] / ˈglɔr i /

noun

glories plural

1. very great praise, honor, or distinction bestowed by common consent; renown.

   to win glory on the field of battle.

   Synonyms:

   celebrity, eminence, fame

   Antonyms:

   obloquy, disgrace

2. something that is a source of honor, fame, or admiration; a distinguished ornament or an object of pride.

   a sonnet that is one of the glories of English poetry.

3. adoring praise or worshipful thanksgiving.

   Give glory to God.

4. resplendent beauty or magnificence.

   the glory of autumn.

   Synonyms:

   effulgence, refulgence, brilliance

5. a state of great splendor, magnificence, or prosperity.

6. a state of absolute happiness, gratification, contentment, etc..

   She was in her glory when her horse won the Derby.

7. the splendor and bliss of heaven; heaven.

8. a ring, circle, or surrounding radiance of light represented about the head or the whole figure of a sacred person, as Christ or a saint; a halo, nimbus, or aureole.

9. anticorona.

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verb (used without object)

gloried, glorying

1. to exult with triumph; rejoice proudly (usually followed byin ).

   Their father gloried in their success.

2. Obsolete. to boast.

interjection

1. Also glory be Glory be to God (used to express surprise, elation, wonder, etc.).

idioms

1. glory days / years, the time of greatest achievement, popularity, success, or the like.

   the glory days of radio.

2. go to glory, to die. Also go to one's glory.

glory British  

/ ˈɡlɔːrɪ /

noun

1. exaltation, praise, or honour, as that accorded by general consent

   the glory for the exploit went to the captain

2. something that brings or is worthy of praise (esp in the phrase crowning glory )

3. thanksgiving, adoration, or worship

   glory be to God

4. pomp; splendour

   the glory of the king's reign

5. radiant beauty; resplendence

   the glory of the sunset

6. the beauty and bliss of heaven

7. a state of extreme happiness or prosperity

8. another word for halo nimbus

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verb

1. to triumph or exult

2. obsolete (intr) to brag

interjection

1. informal a mild interjection to express pleasure or surprise (often in the exclamatory phrase glory be! )

glory More Idioms  

1. see in one's glory.

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Other Word Forms

• gloryingly
  adverb
• self-glory
  noun
• self-glorying
  adjective

Etymology

Origin of glory

First recorded in 1300–50; Middle English, from Old French glorie, from Latin glōria

Explanation

Glory is brilliant, radiant beauty. You might admire a princess in all her glory, since she seems almost too gorgeous to be real. Glory is also a term that is sometimes used in a religious way. It means the glow or light that appears around the head of a holy person or saint, like a halo. Another use of glory is a state of high honor gained from great achievements. If you have heard the expression "you're in your glory," it means that you are very happy and proud — you must have reached one of your big goals.

Example Sentences

With 24-time Grand Slam-winner Novak Djokovic also nearing the end of his illustrious career, fitness was expected to be one of the biggest obstacles to Sinner's bid for glory.

From BBC • May 28, 2026

Autocratic monarchs once left an echo of their glory in the ruins of the megaprojects they commanded at the peak of their unchallenged power.

From BBC • May 25, 2026

But for the 11 months we were married, I experienced the glory of being a we instead of an I. Suddenly I was part of a giant club, the Partnered People.

From Los Angeles Times • May 22, 2026

In their paths to IPO glory, SpaceX, OpenAI and Anthropic have each defied a host of expectations and long-held beliefs about the possibilities of the new technologies they are building.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 21, 2026

Clearly the palace estate had been designed to draw in visitors and astound them with the splendor and glory of the Golden Crescent.

From "Tristan Strong Punches a Hole in the Sky" by Kwame Mbalia

Related Words

• celebrity
• dignity
• grandeur
• greatness
• honor
• immortality
• majesty
• prestige
• reputation
• splendor
• triumph