glory

noun glo·ry \ ˈglȯr-ē \

Updated on: 22 May 2018

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 (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

4 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

5 : a ring or spot of light: such as

a : aureole

b : a halo appearing around the shadow of an object

See glory defined for English-language learners

See glory defined for kids

Examples of glory in a Sentence

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.

Recent Examples of glory from the Web

This week’s relocation of the American embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem is a moment of glory.

— The Economist, "Israel at 70," 17 May 2018
Maybe the Yankees’ run of 1990s glory never happens and Derek Jeter just becomes a mustache-less Don Mattingly – revered but not idolized.

— chris chase, For The Win, "The 11 luckiest moments in sports history," 16 May 2018
As the music’s finale builds thrillingly to glory, Ivan’s coronation reaches its climax: Almost nobody onstage moves.

— alastair macaulay, New York Times, "In ‘Firebird,’ the Choreographer’s Art Is in Storytelling," 15 May 2018
His preparation and dedication are pushing him to pentathlon glory.

— andrew higginbottom, BostonGlobe.com, "In Brockton, a late bloomer hits his stride," 4 May 2018
As the Warriors prepared Saturday to try to wrap up their first-round playoff series against the Spurs on Sunday afternoon, Kerr talked about how the Spurs are more than another pesky foe to be swatted aside on the road to glory.

— scott ostler, San Francisco Chronicle, "In San Antonio, the Spurs are like family," 21 Apr. 2018
After a rare losing season, Chaparral football is hoping transfer QB Jack Miller can return the team to glory.

— richard obert, azcentral, "Intriguing Arizona high school spring football story lines," 21 Apr. 2018
One encouraging thing to remember here, however, is that there have been some memorable performances in which runners experienced on-course stomach issues and still went on to glory.

— martin fritz huber, Outside Online, "Race Week Anxiety? You're Not Alone," 12 Apr. 2018
Perhaps just as improbable as the No. 11 seed Ramblers' run to NCAA glory is the rapid rise in public awareness of Sister Jean, the team's 98-year-old chaplain.

— michael reader, charlotteobserver, "This nun is core to the heaven-sent story of the Final Four. The Panthers want in. | Charlotte Observer," 25 Mar. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'glory.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of glory

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

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 14th century

in the meaning defined at sense 1a

See Words from the same year

glory Synonyms

Synonyms

augustness, brilliance, gloriousness, gorgeousness, grandeur, grandness, magnificence, majesty, nobility, nobleness, resplendence, resplendency, splendidness, splendiferousness, splendor, stateliness, stupendousness, sublimeness, superbness;

dignity, elegance, grace;

lavishness, luxuriance, luxuriousness, luxury, opulence, princeliness, richness, sumptuousness;

grandiosity, ostentation, pretentiousness;

elaborateness, flashiness, gaudiness, ornateness, poshness, ritziness, showiness, swankiness;

extraordinariness, remarkableness;

glory

verb

gloried; glorying

intransitive verb

: to rejoice proudly —used with in

gloried in their great success

See glory defined for English-language learners

Examples of glory in a Sentence

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

Recent Examples of glory from the Web

There was femininity, gloried in and defined multiple ways via dress.

— vanessa friedman, New York Times, "The Golden Globes’ 500 Shades of Black: Did It Work?," 8 Jan. 2018
The other orchestral choirs were far from neglected, however, and the Shostakovich gloried in robust brass playing.

— john von rhein, chicagotribune.com, "Nikolaj Znaider trades his violin bow for a baton and elicits admirable results from the CSO," 22 Dec. 2017
We were not made great as a country by indulging or even exalting our worst impulses, turning against ourselves, glorying in the things which divide us, and calling fake things true and true things fake.

— latimes.com, "Read Sen. Jeff Flake's speech announcing he will not seek reelection: 'I will not be complicit'," 24 Oct. 2017
On Truth We were not made great as a country by indulging or even exalting our worst impulses, turning against ourselves, glorying in the things which divide us, and calling fake things true and true things fake.

— kirsten korosec, Fortune, "Sen. Jeff Flake to Leave Senate: 'I Will Not Be Complicit'," 24 Oct. 2017
We were not made great as a country by indulging or even exalting our worst impulses, turning against ourselves, glorying in the things which divide us, and calling fake things true and true things fake.

— joe donatelli, Los Angeles Magazine, "You Cannot Appreciate the Brutal Savagery of Sen. Flake’s Resignation Speech Until You Read it in Full," 24 Oct. 2017
We were not made great as a country by indulging or even exalting our worst impulses, turning against ourselves, glorying in the things which divide us, and calling fake things true and true things fake.

— amber phillips, Washington Post, "‘I will not be complicit.’ Jeff Flake’s retirement speech, annotated," 24 Oct. 2017
Or did the notions that fed the circus die off in a nation that once gloried in the reach of empire, with strange creatures on display to certify Western Man's dominion over Earth?

— john kass, chicagotribune.com, "The circus just ran out of time," 24 May 2017

Origin and Etymology of glory

see ¹glory

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 14th century

in the meaning defined above

See Words from the same year

glory Synonyms

Phrases

kick up one's heels;

glory

interjection

variants: or glory be

—used to express surprise or delight

Examples of glory in a Sentence

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

Origin and Etymology of glory

see ¹glory

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 1816

in the meaning defined above

See Words from the same year

glory Synonyms

Synonyms

ha (or hah), hallelujah, hey, hooray (also hurrah), hot dog, huzzah, wahoo [chiefly West], whee, whoopee, yahoo, yippee;

Near Antonyms

alack, alas, aw, boo;

Related Words

wow, zowie;

ooh;

gee, gee whiz, gosh;

GLORY Defined for English Language Learners

glory

noun

: public praise, honor, and fame
: praise of a god or goddess
: something that brings praise or fame to someone or something : something that is a source of great pride

GLORY Defined for Kids

glory

noun glo·ry \ ˈglȯr-ē \

plural glories

1 : praise, honor, and admiration given to a person

2 : something that brings honor, praise, or fame

the glories of ancient Rome

3 : brilliance, splendor

“… if you did not wear spectacles the brightness and glory of the Emerald City would blind you.”
—L. Frank Baum, The Wizard of Oz

glory

verb

gloried; glorying

: to rejoice proudly

They gloried in their country's success.

Learn More about glory

See words that rhyme with glory Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for glory Spanish Central: Translation of glory Nglish: Translation of glory for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of glory for Arabic speakers Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about glory

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glory

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glory

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