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

These results are in line with previous infrared observations of quasars, feeding supermassive black holes that glow brightly due to vast emissions of energy from material surrounding the black hole. —Robert Lea, Space.com, 14 Nov. 2025

Many opt to visit the park after the sun sets, to see the lava glow a bright red against the night sky and avoid most crowds. —Kathleen Wong, USA Today, 14 Nov. 2025

Noun

Later the Kunashes learned that a predator who had been prowling the family’s neighborhood − located on charming Merritt Island off the east coast of Florida − had been drawn to the glow of Becky’s night light. —Amanda Lee Myers, USA Today, 13 Nov. 2025

Model Sora Choi gravitates toward products that give her a natural-looking, second-skin glow. —Jenny Berg, Vogue, 13 Nov. 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