glower

American  

[glou-er] / ˈglaʊ ər /

verb (used without object)

1. to look or stare with sullen dislike, discontent, or anger.

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noun

1. a look of sullen dislike, discontent, or anger.

glower British  

/ ˈɡlaʊə /

verb

1. (intr) to stare hard and angrily

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noun

1. a sullen or angry stare

Related Words

See glare ¹.

Other Word Forms

• gloweringly adverb
• unglowering adjective
• ungloweringly adverb

Etymology

Origin of glower

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English ( Scots ) glowren “to glower”; akin to Middle Low German glūren “to be overcast,” Middle Dutch gloeren “to leer”

Explanation

If you see someone glower at you, you might consider glowering back, but no one likes an angry staring contest. To glower is not only to stare, it's to stare angrily, as if you're going to throttle someone. You might already have guessed that glower isn't of Greek or Latin origin, since it doesn't ring any of those bells. Chances are that glower comes from northern Europe, where it's related to some old words that mean to "glow." It was probably in the 18th century that it took on the meaning "stare at angrily or sullenly." You can use its root, glo, to recall its meaning: a person that glowers seems to glow with anger.

Example Sentences

Nonverbal sung chorales often shimmer or glower beneath spoken text.

From The Wall Street Journal • Dec. 5, 2025

Jones’ glower could chill you to the bone, but his smiles were radiant and honest.

From Salon • Sep. 12, 2024

You could definitely see it in the witness box: Bankman-Fried was fidgeting throughout, shifting left and right in his seat, and glaring at the courtroom with a low-eyebrow glower and a consistent frown.

From Slate • Oct. 30, 2023

Bajestani, a convincing Everyman with a charismatic glower, expertly suggests the monster — and the petulant man-child — seething inside the loving, prayerful family man.

From Los Angeles Times • Nov. 3, 2022

All I can do is glower in return.

From "The Cruel Prince" by Holly Black

Related Words

• scowl