- present participle of glow.
glowing
Americanadjective
-
rich and warm in coloring.
glowing colors.
-
showing the radiance of health, excitement, etc..
glowing cheeks.
-
warmly favorable or complimentary.
a glowing account of her work.
- Synonyms:
- unstinting, rapturous, enthusiastic, wholehearted, ardent
adjective
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emitting a steady bright light without flames
glowing embers
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warm and rich in colour
the room was decorated in glowing shades of gold and orange
-
flushed and rosy, as from exercise or excitement
glowing cheeks
-
displaying or indicative of extreme satisfaction, pride, or emotion
he gave a glowing account of his son's achievements
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of glowing
before 1000; Middle English glowynge, Old English glowende. See glow, -ing 2
Explanation
If something is glowing, it's either lit up like a light or it's full of praise and enthusiasm. So, you could receive a glowing candle or a glowing report card. You choose. When a report or account is glowing, it's unreservedly positive, like a book critic's glowing review of a new mystery novel or your grandmother's glowing praise for the good job you did mowing her lawn. Glowing comes from glow, which can mean "a flush of radiant feeling," and which comes from the Old English glowan, "to glow or shine as if red-hot."
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.
Dressed in a white blazer and red skirt, she recites De La Cruz’s biography as the real congressman looks on with a glowing smile.
From Slate ● Nov. 2, 2026
The new wing’s irregular, mysterious form and overlapping stainless-steel panels catch unique swathes of glowing sunlight.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 27, 2026
Released in March, the album went straight to the top of the UK charts and won glowing reviews from critics.
From BBC ● Oct. 22, 2026
As the rocket climbed above Earth carrying a Dragon spacecraft, sunlight illuminated its expanding exhaust plumes, creating an enormous glowing shape that resembled a jellyfish.
From Science Daily ● Oct. 18, 2026
She draws something in her palm and unleashes a glowing green strand of webbing that I grab hold of.
From "Kwame Crashes the Underworld" by Craig Kofi Farmer
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