glory

American  

[glawr-ee] / ˈglɔr i /

noun

plural

glories

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

I adore those old movies because I grew up watching them presented in their original glory.

From Salon • May 8, 2026

However, he insisted to The Wall Street Journal that this was not the case, telling the outlet that he was simply hoping to return the dwelling to its former glory.

From MarketWatch • May 5, 2026

Still, the fees pale in comparison to the mutual-fund glory days, when many funds charged 1% of assets or more.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 4, 2026

It was a far cry from his glory days of finishing in less than three hours, but it still meant a lot to take part, he says.

From BBC • May 3, 2026

Marco’s cart drew closer in all its polished, shining glory.

From "The Boy Who Met a Whale" by Nizrana Farook

Related Words

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