laurel
noun
a small European evergreen tree, Laurus nobilis, of the laurel family, having dark, glossy green leaves.
laurel
1 American
[lawr-uhl, lor-]
/ ˈlɔr əl, ˈlɒr- /
noun
-
laurels
plural
-
Also called bay, sweet bay. a small European evergreen tree, Laurus nobilis, of the laurel family, having dark, glossy green leaves.
-
any tree of the genus Laurus.
-
any of various similar trees or shrubs, as the mountain laurel or the great rhododendron.
-
the foliage of the laurel as an emblem of victory or distinction.
-
a branch or wreath of laurel foliage.
-
Usually laurels. honor won, as for achievement in a field or activity.
verb (used with object)
-
laurels,
present (3rd person singular)
-
laureled,
past participle, past
-
laurelled,
past participle, past (especially British)
-
laureling,
present participle
-
laurelling
present participle (especially British)
-
to adorn or wreathe with laurel.
-
to honor with marks of distinction.
idioms
-
rest on one's laurels, to be content with one's past or present honors, achievements, etc..
He retired at the peak of his career and is resting on his laurels.
-
look to one's laurels, to be alert to the possibility of being excelled or surpassed.
New developments in the industry are forcing long-established firms to look to their laurels.
Laurel
2
American
[lawr-uhl, lor-]
/ ˈlɔr əl, ˈlɒr- /
noun
-
Stan Arthur Stanley Jefferson, 1890–1965, U.S. motion-picture actor and comedian, born in England.
-
a city in SE Mississippi.
-
a town in central Maryland.
-
a female given name.
laurel
British
/ ˈlɒrəl /
noun
-
Also called: bay. true laurel. any lauraceous tree of the genus Laurus , such as the bay tree (see bay4 ) and L. canariensis , of the Canary Islands and Azores
-
any lauraceous plant
-
short for cherry laurel mountain laurel
-
a European thymelaeaceous evergreen shrub, Daphne laureola, with glossy leaves and small green flowers
-
an evergreen cornaceous shrub, Aucuba japonica, of S and SE Asia, the female of which has yellow-spotted leaves
-
(plural) a wreath of true laurel, worn on the head as an emblem of victory or honour in classical times
-
(plural) honour, distinction, or fame
-
to be on guard against one's rivals
-
to be satisfied with distinction won by past achievements and cease to strive for further achievements
verb
laurel
More Idioms
Usage
What does laurel mean? A laurel is a type of tree with dark, glossy green leaves. In Ancient Greece and Rome, laurel leaves were used to make wreaths that were worn on a person’s head to symbolize victory—like that leaf crown that Caesar is always wearing in statues. Today, we use the word laurels to mean honors. When used this way, it is almost always plural. Example: After a 50-year career, I have many laurels, but I’m most proud of my beautiful family.
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
-
laurelsimple
-
laurelssimple
-
have laureledperfect
-
have laurelledperfect
-
has laureledperfect
-
has laurelledperfect
-
am laurelingprogressive
-
am laurellingprogressive
-
are laurelingprogressive
-
are laurellingprogressive
-
is laurelingprogressive
-
is laurellingprogressive
-
have been laurelingperfect progressive
-
have been laurellingperfect progressive
-
has been laurelingperfect progressive
-
has been laurellingperfect progressive
Past
-
laureledsimple
-
laurelledsimple
-
had laureledperfect
-
had laurelledperfect
-
was laurelingprogressive
-
was laurellingprogressive
-
were laurelingprogressive
-
were laurellingprogressive
-
had been laurelingperfect progressive
-
had been laurellingperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of laurel
1250–1300; dissimilated variant of Middle English laurer, earlier lorer < Anglo-French; Old French lorier bay tree, equivalent to lor bay, laurel (< Latin laurus ) + -ier -ier 2; see -er 2
Explanation
A laurel is a wreath worn on the head, usually as a symbol of victory. If you see an image of Julius Caesar, chances are he's wearing a laurel. A laurel is a type of wreath — circular, made from leaves and branches — worn on the head in ancient times. The laurel is a symbol of victory that lives on in the phrase "Resting on one's laurels." When you rest on your laurels, you're happy with previous successes but not doing much to continue succeeding. You've gotten lazy and complacent.
Vocabulary lists containing laurel
"The Odyssey," Vocabulary from Part 1 of the epic poem
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
Quiz yourself on these words spoken by the man at the center of the "Laurel" / "Yanny" craze!
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
"To an Athlete Dying Young" by A. E. Housman
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
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.
See Examples For:
The soldiers are shadowed by an allegorical figure carrying poppies, symbolizing sleep—an analog, in the art of the time, for death—and a laurel branch symbolizing peace.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 2, 2026
At the center, resting on a plinth in front of a shallow niche and beneath a graceful valance of laurel, is French’s striking bronze portrait bust of Hunt.
From The Wall Street Journal ● May 8, 2026
The Berlin T-Shirt shows a male figure wearing a laurel wreath.
From BBC ● Feb. 12, 2026
A number of the trees cut down by the vandal appeared to be Indian laurel figs.
From Los Angeles Times ● Apr. 23, 2025
It wasn’t hauling a boat, though; it was hauling a tree—the laurel oak that would be planted in Mike Costello’s name.
From "Tangerine" by Edward Bloor
July 4 at an apartment complex on West Laurel Street in Compton, according to prosecutors.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 18, 2026
Alison remembers her mother collecting melted bottles and warped pans left by the Bel-Air fire that tore through Laurel Canyon shortly before the family relocated there.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 15, 2026
Laurel Sutherlin, 49, and Brianna Cayo Cotter, 45, are avoiding mainstream festivities entirely and camping in the Adirondacks with friends.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 4, 2026
Kindergarten through 2nd graders at Laurel Elementary in Compton participate in a summer bridge program to continue learning foundational math skills if they need a boost for concepts introduced during the school year.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 30, 2026
He quoted a line from his film favourites, Laurel and Hardy.
From "The London Eye Mystery" by Siobhan Dowd
But that should not mean resting on our laurels or on the golf cart if a friend or acquaintance reaches out for help.
From MarketWatch ● May 29, 2026
Through a proprietary mixture of light nostalgia baiting and ever-present curiosity, Gellar has achieved a rare type of icon status — a superstar who owns her legacy, but isn’t willing to rest on her laurels.
From Salon ● Mar. 26, 2026
Domingo could very well rest on his laurels as an actor, but he’s got other projects and goals in mind.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Mar. 10, 2026
“I’ve learned what success can and cannot do for a person. You have to learn to be satisfied. People say ‘don’t rest on your laurels,’ but what are laurels for?”
From Los Angeles Times ● Feb. 24, 2026
The Doctor was a semiretired physician, resting, as the saying is, upon his laurels.
From "The Awakening" by Kate Chopin
We are in the midst of a great year for cinema, Glenn, and “The Zone of Interest,” already widely acclaimed and laureled at Cannes, sits near the top of the list for me.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 5, 2023
The more poignant question may be: When does the writing of a laureled outsider drown out the literary voices of the people being discussed?
From Los Angeles Times ● Mar. 16, 2023
Other laureled films like Brazil’s “Bacurau” and France’s lesbian love story “Portrait of a Lady on Fire” deserve consideration, too.
From New York Times ● May 27, 2019
As much as Sarris yearned to canonize Samuel Fuller and Nicholas Ray, he also needed to cauterize the work of directors laureled by front-line movie reviewers.
From Time ● Jun. 21, 2012
At the battle's close, In the flush of the victory won, he goes With martial music—and waving plume— From a field of fame—to a laureled tomb!
From Graham's Magazine Vol XXXIII No. 5 November 1848 by Various
Walt Disney himself, laurelled by the White House as the “Creator of an American Folklore,” claimed the mantle of innocence, describing Mickey as “Youth, the Great Unlicked and Uncontaminated.”
From The New Yorker ● Jun. 3, 2019
The most laurelled of black composers, Ellington was honored on his 70th birthday with a dinner and jam session at the White House.
From Time ● Oct. 24, 2011
Sometime it pleaseth to beguile Its monarch fancy with a smile; Sometime it is athirst for tears: And so adown the laurelled years I walk, the noblest lord on earth, Dispensing sympathy and mirth.
From Second Book of Verse by Eugene Field
The average English palate would shudder at the flavour of aioli, but it would be charmed by the insertion of that petit point d'ail which turned mere goodness into triumph and laurelled perfection.
From The Secret Glory by Arthur Machen
Boasts the gay band, Which circles brave Cæsario's laurelled car, No youth who proudly wears Estella's colours, And knows no glory like Estella's smile?
From The Mirror of Taste, and Dramatic Censor, Vol. I, No. 5, May 1810 by S. C. (Stephen Cullen) Carpenter
Smith's continuous stream of productivity, her topical range, the accolades laureling her books, her prodigious artistic abilities, should be evidence enough to assuage her fears about credibility.
From Los Angeles Times ● Feb. 7, 2018
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
