Illustration of laurel
- laurel 1
1
: an evergreen shrub or tree (Laurus nobilis of the family Lauraceae, the laurel family) of southern Europe with small yellow flowers, fruits that are ovoid blackish berries, and evergreen foliage once used by the ancient Greeks to crown victors in the Pythian games
called also bay, sweet bay
2
: a tree or shrub that resembles the true laurel
especially
: mountain laurel
3
a
: a crown of laurel awarded as an honor
b
: a recognition of achievement : honor
—usually used in plural
laureled or laurelled; laureling or laurelling
: to deck or crown with laurel
Examples of laurel in a Sentence
Noun
They enjoyed the laurels of their military victory.
The player earned his laurels from years of hard work.
Recent Examples on the Web
Adam Morganstern, Forbes.com, 15 May 2025
Guardiola is never one to rest on his tactical laurels, and the return of Haaland could lead to another tweak in light of Glasner’s comments.
—Matt Woosnam, New York Times, 12 May 2025
In his own right, the Pulitzer-winning Lamar is also a legend, but like Bey, his is not resting on his laurels.
—Alex Gonzalez, MSNBC Newsweek, 9 May 2025
In fact, part of what marks Cronenberg as one of the most exciting voices of his filmmaking generation (or any other) is a general refusal to rest on his laurels or his bad-boy reputation.
—A.a. Dowd, Vulture, 28 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for laurel
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Noun
And though he’s hit his marker for claiming the world’s largest hotel gin collection, Bullock doesn’t seem to want to rest on his laurels.
—Adam Morganstern, Forbes.com, 15 May 2025
Guardiola is never one to rest on his tactical laurels, and the return of Haaland could lead to another tweak in light of Glasner’s comments.
—Matt Woosnam, New York Times, 12 May 2025
In his own right, the Pulitzer-winning Lamar is also a legend, but like Bey, his is not resting on his laurels.
—Alex Gonzalez, MSNBC Newsweek, 9 May 2025
In fact, part of what marks Cronenberg as one of the most exciting voices of his filmmaking generation (or any other) is a general refusal to rest on his laurels or his bad-boy reputation.
—A.a. Dowd, Vulture, 28 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for laurel
Cite this Entry
“Laurel.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/laurel. Accessed 25 May. 2025.
Copy CitationBiographical Definition
Laurel
biographical name
Lau·rel
ˈlȯr-əl 
ˈlär-
Stan 1890–1965 born Arthur Stanley Jefferson British comic actor in U.S.
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