glow

verb \ ˈglō \

|Updated on: 14 Aug 2018

Examples: glow in a Sentence

Definition of glow

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

—

glowingly

play \ˈglō-iŋ-lē\ adverb

See glow defined for English-language learners

See glow defined for kids

Examples of glow in a Sentence

The coals glowed in the fireplace.
The fireplace glowed with the dying coals.
This toy glows in the dark.

Recent Examples of glow from the Web

There is a rose growing all over the island, its pink and white blossoms glowing in front yards, on the dunes and between the old Viking graves, most of which have long been swallowed by the sea.

— max maeckler, Vogue, "The Martha’s Vineyard of Germany Is Vanishing Into the Sea," 25 June 2018
The warm chandelier lighting makes the place glow at night in a flickering candlestick kind of way that detoxes you from a day in fluorescence.

— Bon Appetit, "Via Carota," 25 June 2018
The new, glow-in-the-dark laser tag experience takes place in Studio B, Mariner's ice skating rink.

— gene sloan, USA TODAY, "Royal Caribbean ups ante for short cruises from Miami with revamped Mariner of the Seas," 22 June 2018
Think of them as strings of festive lights, glowing in their rich colors and fragrances.

— adrian higgins, sacbee, "As for beauty and fragrance, the rambler comes up roses," 15 June 2018
On the roof, a few guests lingered as the lights from the nearby Carlyle Hotel started glowing in the dusk.

— bob morris, The New Yorker, "The Coloring Book Enters Its Baroque Phase," 11 June 2018
Draine finds the nano-diamond hypothesis appealing, but notes the correlation between the three stars’ microwave glows and nano-diamonds in their disks might be mere coincidence.

— shannon hall, Scientific American, "Glittering Diamond Dust in Space Might Solve a 20-Year-Old Mystery," 11 June 2018
Its website and social media accounts feature spectacular views of the volcano, which would sometimes send up plumes of ash and could be seen glowing in the evenings.

— david williams, CNN, "Guatemala hotel that proudly touted its volcano views is now covered in ash," 6 June 2018
This makes the otherwise invisible nerve agents glow so they can be seen by the naked eye.

— allison barrie, Fox News, "Innovative project harnesses Legos and smartphones in the fight against invisible, deadly weapons," 13 July 2018

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

Origin and Etymology of glow

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

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: before 12th century

in the meaning defined at sense 1a

See Words from the same year

glow Synonyms

Synonyms

blaze, burn, combust, flame;

Related Words

catch, enkindle;

fire, ignite, kindle;

flare (up), light (up);

flicker, gutter, waver;

bake, broil, char, cook, melt, roast, scorch, swelter;

smolder (or smoulder), spark, sputter;

beam, brighten, radiate;

beat (down), flash, glare, gleam, glimmer, glint, glisten, glitter, scintillate, shimmer, shine, sparkle, twinkle;

Phrases

go up in flames;

glow

noun

Definition of glow

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

See glow defined for English-language learners

Examples of glow in a Sentence

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 of glow from the Web

There will be pilot competitions, night glows, live music and fireworks.

— phil marty, chicagotribune.com, "Aviation enthusiasts flock to Oshkosh, brewers battle it out in Kenosha and more Midwest events," 9 July 2018
These chemicals glow faintly when mixed with certain neurotoxins, and the color and brightness of that glow changes depending on the neurotoxin.

— avery thompson, Popular Mechanics, "Scientists Build Neurotoxin Detector From a Smartphone and Legos," 28 June 2018
Part of the problem, Zitron said, is the lingering glow of the good press Facebook—and, indeed, the entirety of Silicon Valley—basked in for years.

— maya kosoff, The Hive, "“They’re Certainly Not Prepared”: What’s Next for Facebook After Zuckerberg’s Mea Culpa Tour," 27 Mar. 2018
This was about being aggressive and staying aggressive, ignoring the champion’s glow, and embracing the challenger’s dismissal.

— mitch albom, Detroit Free Press, "Mitch Albom: Philadelphia Eagles' Super Bowl miracle started with guts," 5 Feb. 2018
Many of the photos are in low light, lit only by the sparks of welding torches or the lime green glow from work lights, creating an otherworldly atmosphere and a dance of shadows.

— jeff suess, Cincinnati.com, "Our history: ‘Through the Lens’ book shows Music Hall transformation," 31 Jan. 2018
In the low glow of the room, laughs lasted well into the night.

— lauren sanchez, Vogue, "The Legendary Robin Williams was Missed and Reminisced at the New York City Premiere for Robin Williams: Come Inside My Mind," 14 July 2018
Everyone’s eyes were turned to deep dark shadows by the sickly yellow glow, and everyone was stepping slow and dreamy-like.

— andrew liptak, The Verge, "A transgender girl rises up against alien invaders in Rich Larson’s novel Annex," 8 July 2018
Free parking and shuttle bus service from Crown Point High School starts at 12 p.m. New this year are two evenings of balloon glows, photos and tethered balloon rides Aug. 7-8.

— annie alleman, Post-Tribune, "Step right up to Northwest Indiana county fairs," 28 June 2018

First Known Use of glow

1600

in the meaning defined at sense 1

See Words from the same year

NEW! Time Traveler

glow Synonyms

Synonyms

blaze, flare, fluorescence, glare, gleam, illumination, incandescence, light, luminescence, radiance, shine;

Near Antonyms

blackness, dark, darkness, dimness, dusk, duskiness, gloom, night, shadow;

daylight, moonlight, sunlight, sunshine;

afterglow, aureole (or aureola), aurora, beam, halo, ray, shaft, streak, stream, sunbeam;

glisten, gloss, luster (or lustre), polish, reflection, sheen;

GLOW Defined for English Language Learners

glow

verb

Definition of glow for English Language Learners

: to shine with low light and heat but usually without flame
: to shine with a steady light
: to have a warm, reddish color from exercise, emotion, etc.

glow

noun

Definition of glow for English Language Learners

: a soft and steady light
: a pink color in your face from exercising, being excited, etc.
: a pleasant feeling

GLOW Defined for Kids

glow

verb \ ˈglō \

Definition of glow for Students

glowed; glowing

1 : to shine with or as if with great heat

Coals glowed in the fireplace.

2 : to shine with steady light

Candles glowed in the dark.

3 : to have a warm reddish color (as from exercise)

4 : to look happy, excited, or healthy

His eyes glowed with pride.

glow

noun

Definition of glow for Students

1 : light such as comes from something that is very hot but not flaming

2 : brightness or warmth of color

There was a rosy glow in the sky.

3 : a feeling of physical warmth (as from exercise)

4 : a warm and pleasant feeling

She felt a glow of happiness.

Learn More about glow

See words that rhyme with glow Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for glow Spanish Central: Translation of glow Nglish: Translation of glow for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of glow for Arabic speakers

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glow

Definition of glow

glowingly

Examples of glow in a Sentence

Recent Examples of glow from the Web

Origin and Etymology of glow

glow Synonyms

Synonyms

Related Words

Phrases

glow

Definition of glow

Examples of glow in a Sentence

Recent Examples of glow from the Web

First Known Use of glow

glow Synonyms

Synonyms

Near Antonyms

Related Words

Phrases Related to GLOW

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GLOW Defined for English Language Learners

glow

Definition of glow for English Language Learners

glow

Definition of glow for English Language Learners

GLOW Defined for Kids

glow

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glow

Definition of glow for Students

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