glow

1 of 2

verb

ˈglō 

glowed; glowing; glows

intransitive verb

1

a

: to shine with or as if with an intense heat

embers glowing in the darkness

b(1)

: to have a rich warm typically ruddy color

cheeks glowing with health

(2)

: flush, blush

the children glowed with excitement

2

a

: to experience a sensation of or as if of heat

glowing with rage

b

: to show exuberance or elation

glow with pride

glow

2 of 2

noun

1

: brightness or warmth of color

especially : redness

2

a

: warmth of feeling or emotion

b

: a sensation of warmth

the drug produces a sustained glow

3

a

: the state of glowing with heat and light

b

: light such as is emitted by a solid body heated to luminosity : incandescence

Synonyms of glow

Verb

• flame
• burn
• blaze
• flicker

Noun

• glare
• light
• gleam
• illumination
• glint

Examples of glow in a Sentence

Verb

The coals glowed in the fireplace.

The fireplace glowed with the dying coals.

This toy glows in the dark.

Noun

We could see the glow of the lamp in the window.

The town's lights cast a glow on the horizon.

the rosy glow of health

He felt a glow as he remembered the day they first met.

Their problems were all forgotten in the glow of victory.

She felt the glow from the fireplace.

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

Artisans from Harbin, China, craft towering sculptures glowing in jewel tones, inviting guests to slide down frozen chutes, crawl through ice tunnels, and marvel at crystalline details. —Lisa A. Beach, Southern Living, 5 Dec. 2025

Medicube Collagen Jelly Cream The best-selling face moisturizer has earned thousands of glowing reviews from Amazon shoppers, with more than 100,000 users adding it to their carts in the past month. —Jeaneen Russell, PEOPLE, 5 Dec. 2025

Noun

Connecting them is a bright bridge of gas and dust embedded with clusters of newborn stars, shining blue against the reddish glow of warm interstellar dust. —Samantha Mathewson, Space.com, 4 Dec. 2025

Those shimmering colors appear when those particles interact with the upper layers of Earth’s atmosphere, creating a glow that can stretch 50 to 300 miles overhead. —Evan Moore december 4, Charlotte Observer, 4 Dec. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Verb

Middle English, from Old English glōwan; akin to Old English geolu yellow — more at yellow

First Known Use

Verb

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Noun

circa 1616, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing glow

• glow discharge
• glow lamp
• glow plug
• golden glow
• twilight glow

Rhymes for glow

• beau
• beaux
• blow
• boe
• bro
• coe
• crow
• doe
• doh
• dough
• eau
• eaux

Kids Definition

glow

1 of 2 verb

ˈglō 

1

: to shine with or as if with great heat : give off light without flame

glowing coals

2

: to have a rich warm usually reddish color

3

: to be or look warm and flushed (as from excitement)

glow with pride

glow

2 of 2 noun

1

: brightness or warmth of color

a rosy glow of health

2

a

: warmth of feeling

b

: a feeling of physical warmth

3

: light such as that given off by something that is very hot but not flaming