glow-up
What does glow-up mean?
A dramatic improvement in someone's appearance, confidence or circumstances over time — a transformation for the better.
Origin
Grew out of hip-hop use of "glow" for success; the "glow-up" form spread through before-and-after posts on social media.
Frequently asked questions
What does "glow-up" mean?
A dramatic improvement in someone's appearance, confidence or circumstances over time — a transformation for the better.
How do you use "glow-up" in a sentence?
For example: "She had a serious glow-up between school and university."
Where does "glow-up" come from?
Grew out of hip-hop use of "glow" for success; the "glow-up" form spread through before-and-after posts on social media. It's generally dated to around 2016.
Is "glow-up" Gen Z slang?
Yes — "glow-up" is classed as Gen Z slang on FreeDict. A dramatic improvement in someone's appearance, confidence or circumstances over time — a transformation for the better.