glow-up

1 of 2

noun

ˈglō-ˌəp 

variants or glow up or less commonly glo up or glo-up

plural glow-ups or glow ups also glo ups or glo-ups

slang

: a usually dramatic enhancement especially to someone's or something's physical appearance : an instance of glowing up

a hair/skin/fashion glow-up

How many times have we heard famous faces attribute their glow-ups to weight loss, … push-up bras or miracle creams?

—Samantha Benitz

He has also quietly undergone something of a glow-up, hitting the gym and looking visibly healthier and more confident.

—Tina Campbell

A fall home glow up is easier than you think thanks to … some of our favorite home and kitchen brands.

—Sholeen Damarwala

… some of this season's rising stars will miss out on the career glow-up that's possible from a prolonged awards press tour …

—Kyle Buchanan

glow up

2 of 2

verb

glowed up; glowing up; glows up

transitive + intransitive

slang

: to undergo or cause to undergo a usually dramatic enhancement especially in physical appearance : to undergo or cause to undergo a glow-up

In Hollywood, the pressures to glow up—to look sleeker and smoother and uncannily better—are so immense that not even hallways are immune. Consider the passageway between the backstage area and the set of The Jennifer Hudson Show …

—Heather Schwedel

If you're in a temporary space or don't have significant capital to invest in beautifying your space, these seven ways to glow up your office are a great place to start.

—Olivia Garrett Barajas

By telling young, impressionable audiences they are not enough, the pressure to 'glow-up' bleeds into a general lack of self-assuredness …

—Jamila Wichmann

Note: Usage of the verb glow up and its adjective derivative glowed-up originated in African American English and has since become widespread.

glowed-up

ˈglōd-ˌəp 

adjective

… flaunted a glowed-up physique …

—Lisa Kennedy Montgomery

… a fresh snap of yourself, often looking older, wiser and much more glowed-up!

—Alex Ungerman

Examples of glow-up in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Far from slop, this is the glow-up the lunch bowl deserves. —Jenn Harris, Los Angeles Times, 20 Apr. 2026

The jaw-dropping transformations prompted a hilarious running joke in the comments section from viewers seeking glow-ups of their own. —Catherine Santino, PEOPLE, 16 Apr. 2026

That old-school magic still exists at the Waldorf Astoria New York, which shines anew on Park Avenue after an eight-year closure and $2-billion glow-up. —Travel + Leisure Editors, Travel + Leisure, 15 Apr. 2026

Erik Karlsson’s fantastic year and glow-up since the Olympic break lands in the top 15 in Net Rating among defensemen. —Dom Luszczyszyn, New York Times, 14 Apr. 2026

The Capital One Spark Miles for Business is getting a minor glow-up, rebranding as the Capital One Venture Business. —Jason Stauffer, CNBC, 14 Apr. 2026

New report details safety issues that led to Miami organ recovery group’s closure, Miami Herald Cancer rates are higher near large livestock feeding operations in three states, a new study finds, Inside Climate News Can red light therapy really deliver a beauty and health glow-up? —Theresa Gaffney, STAT, 14 Apr. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Noun

derivative of glow up

Verb

probably blend of glow entry 1 and grow up

First Known Use

Noun

circa 2015, in the meaning defined above

Verb

circa 2015, in the meaning defined above