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glow-up

American  
[gloh-uhp] / ˈgloʊˌʌp /

noun

  • glow-ups
    plural
  1. a positive transformation, generally in appearance but often also in confidence, social capital, or ability.


Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

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.

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Kevin Cassidy, a 28-year-old former private-equity associate at New Mountain Capital, wasn’t convinced that PE guys were in the midst of a starry glow-up.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 8, 2026

Summerween, like “Christmas in July,” offers a win-win on both sides — retailers get a jump on the season, and summer gets a retail glow-up.

From Salon ● Jun. 30, 2026

Trump's plan to restore Washington's parks and give its monuments a bit of a glow-up coincides with the 250th anniversary of the founding of the United States on July 4.

From Barron's ● May 19, 2026

"Clearly this is a massive glow-up for environments," said video game critic Alex Donaldson on Bluesky.

From BBC ● Mar. 17, 2026

I wanted to talk about the role TikTok played in your recent glow-up in comedy over the last few years.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 7, 2025

Denka, the 23-year-old founder, who recently moved from San Francisco to New York, is unconvinced that mimicking billionaires’ glow-ups will move the needle for early-stage founders and their businesses.

From The Wall Street Journal ● May 18, 2026

Executive chef Lonie Murdock admits that some Caribbean customers view these glow-ups with concern or suspicion.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jan. 30, 2026

Both also star as first-year counselors eager for their long-awaited glow-ups, bringing sardonic banter to a watchable ensemble of characters repping every teen trope in the genre book.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 13, 2023

Or maybe it’s one of those COVID-era glow-ups that had people emerging from isolation with straighter teeth and cuter clothes.

From Slate ● Apr. 28, 2022

One more year of being quiet, unassuming Bri who stays to herself as her friends get their glow-ups.

From "On the Come Up" by Angie Thomas

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