glory

1 of 3

noun

glo·​ry ˈglȯr-ē 

plural glories

1

a

: praise, honor, or distinction extended by common consent : renown

b

: worshipful praise, honor, and thanksgiving

giving glory to God

2

a

: something that secures praise or renown

the glory of a brilliant career

b

: a distinguished quality or asset

The glory of the city is its Gothic cathedral.

3

a

: a state of great gratification or exaltation

When she's acting she's in her glory.

b

: a height of prosperity or achievement

ancient Rome in its glory

4

a(1)

: great beauty and splendor : magnificence

… the glory that was Greece and the grandeur that was Rome.

—E. A. Poe

(2)

: something marked by beauty or resplendence

a perfect glory of a day

b

: the splendor and beatific happiness of heaven

broadly : eternity

5

: a ring or spot of light: such as

a

: aureole

b

: a halo appearing around the shadow of an object

glory

2 of 3

verb

gloried; glorying

intransitive verb

: to rejoice proudly

—used with in

gloried in their great success

glory

3 of 3

interjection

variants or glory be

—used to express surprise or delight

Synonyms

Noun

• acclaim
• accolade
• applause
• bay(s)
• credit
• distinction
• homage
• honor
• kudos
• laud
• laurels
• props [slang]
• réclame
• sun

Verb

• crow
• delight
• exuberate
• exult
• joy
• jubilate
• kvell
• rejoice
• triumph

Interjection

• ha
• hah
• hallelujah
• hey
• hooray
• hurrah
• hurray
• hot dog
• huzzah
• wahoo [chiefly West]
• whee
• whoopee
• yahoo
• yippee

Examples of glory in a Sentence

Noun

As a young soldier he dreamed of winning military glory.

He now has only a few trophies to remind him of the glory of his athletic career.

Let us give glory to God.

The glory of the town is its fountain.

an art exhibit showing off the glories of ancient civilizations

The new owners are trying to restore the company to its former glory.

The beautiful art reminds us of the glory of the empire.

Verb

the whole city gloried in the home team's winning of the World Series

Interjection

glory! I thought I'd never see this day come

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Both clubs have been lavishly decorated in an Art Deco/jazz age style as a tip of the hat to the glory days of supper clubs past. —Pam Kragen, San Diego Union-Tribune, 26 Apr. 2024

Art regains his confidence, Patrick gets to play great tennis with his best friend again, and Tashi experiences the fire of her glory days vicariously through her two lovers. —Sydney Bucksbaum, EW.com, 26 Apr. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Noun, Verb, and Interjection

Middle English glorie, from Anglo-French & Latin; Anglo-French, from Latin gloria

First Known Use

Noun

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Verb

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Interjection

1816, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing glory

• bask in the glory
• bask in the reflected glory
• cover oneself in/with glory
• crowning glory
• glory be
• glory days/years
• glory in
• glory-of-the-snow
• go to (one's) glory
• greater glory
• in all one's glory
• in one's glory
• morning glory
• reflected glory
• self-glory
• what price glory/fame

Kids Definition

glory

1 of 2 noun

glo·​ry ˈglōr-ē 

ˈglȯr-

plural glories

1

a

: praise, honor, or distinction given by common consent

b

: worshipful praise, honor, and thanksgiving

2

a

: something that brings praise or renown

b

: a distinguished quality or brilliant asset

the glory of the town was its fountain

3

a

: great beauty : splendor sense 2

b

: the splendor and bliss of heaven

4

: a height of prosperity or achievement

in her glory when she's painting

glory

2 of 2 verb

gloried; glorying

: to rejoice proudly : exult

he gloried in his fame