glorious

adjective

glo·​ri·​ous ˈglȯr-ē-əs How to pronounce glorious (audio)
1
a
: possessing or deserving glory : illustrious
had a long and glorious military career
b
: entitling one to glory
a glorious victory
2
: marked by great beauty or splendor : magnificent
a glorious sunset
3
: delightful, wonderful
had a glorious weekend
gloriously adverb
gloriousness noun
Choose the Right Synonym for glorious

splendid, resplendent, gorgeous, glorious, sublime, superb mean extraordinarily or transcendently impressive.

splendid implies outshining the usual or customary.

the wedding was a splendid occasion

resplendent suggests a glowing or blazing splendor.

resplendent in her jewelry

gorgeous implies a rich splendor especially in display of color.

a gorgeous red dress

glorious suggests radiance that heightens beauty or distinction.

a glorious sunset

sublime implies an exaltation or elevation almost beyond human comprehension.

a vision of sublime beauty

superb suggests an excellence reaching the highest conceivable degree.

her singing was superb

Examples of glorious in a Sentence

He had a long and glorious military career. The old ruins give only a hint of the city's glorious past. The government has described the battle as a glorious victory. Our room had a glorious view of the mountains.
Recent Examples on the Web Cher’s 1998 smash album Believe, and its still glorious title-track, turn 25 this year — but definitely do not bring that up to Cher. Jon Blistein, Rolling Stone, 28 Nov. 2023 However, of that terrain, more than half is rated expert — and that’s not even counting its glorious backcountry. Consider the famed Corbet's Couloir, one of the steepest open runs in all of North America. Stacey Leasca, Travel + Leisure, 27 Nov. 2023 The joy of playing with her and relishing her glorious laughter was a treat. Keith Langston, Peoplemag, 23 Nov. 2023 Now, on to the glorious gluttony that has marked this day across the centuries. The Editors, Field & Stream, 23 Nov. 2023 His glorious predictions that the Boring Company would dig a 10-mile tunnel under L.A. or that Tesla Energy would produce 1,000 solar panel systems per week are long forgotten, perhaps even by Musk himself. Shawn Tully, Fortune, 20 Nov. 2023 With stunning harmonies and the infusion of on-stage pianists, guitarists and drummers, the show feels like watching a glorious tapestry come together. Aramide Tinubu, Variety, 20 Nov. 2023 The result is a city of, at times, dramatic contrasts, which can all be seen from the glorious Castillo de Gibralfaro. Lisa Johnson, Condé Nast Traveler, 20 Nov. 2023 Aiming for your most glorious hair yet with the Supersonic Hair Dryer (which our reviewer said ended her 20-year battle with frizz). Deanna Pai, Glamour, 16 Nov. 2023 See More

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'glorious.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Anglo-French & Latin; Anglo-French glorios, from Latin gloriosus glorious, vainglorious, from gloria

First Known Use

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of glorious was in the 13th century

Dictionary Entries Near glorious

Cite this Entry

“Glorious.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/glorious. Accessed 2 Dec. 2023.

Kids Definition

glorious

adjective
glo·​ri·​ous ˈglōr-ē-əs How to pronounce glorious (audio)
ˈglȯr-
1
a
: possessing or deserving glory : illustrious
b
: bringing glory
glorious victory
2
: having great beauty or splendor
a glorious sunset
3
: delightful
had a glorious day
gloriously adverb
gloriousness noun

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