glory
GLAW-ree
Glory (noun) means Great honour, fame, or admiration earned through achievement. Example: “The soldiers returned home to glory and celebration.”
noun
1
Great honour, fame, or admiration earned through achievement.
"The soldiers returned home to glory and celebration."
"She dreamed of Olympic glory."
"The young footballer scored the winning goal and basked in the glory for weeks."
2
Magnificent beauty or splendor.
"The cathedral was restored to its former glory."
"We stood on the hill and admired the glory of the sunset over the valley."
"The old garden was in all its summer glory, bright with flowers."
verb
1
To take great pride or joy in something.
"He gloried in his team's unexpected win."
"She gloried in the sunshine after a long, grey winter."
"The villagers gloried in the beauty of their ancient forest."
How to use glory
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishGreat honour or splendid beauty, or the pride you take in an achievement.
Common pairings
bask in glory
blaze of glory
former glory
glory days
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Word forms
- Plural
- glories
- Third person singular
- glories
- Past tense
- gloried
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The soldiers returned home to _____ and celebration.
Etymology
From Old French glorie, from Latin gloria, meaning fame, honour, or renown.
Synonyms
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Related words
Rhymes for glory
See all rhymes for glory →Frequently asked questions
What does “glory” mean?
The word “glory” means great honour, fame, or admiration earned through achievement. In plain terms, great honour or splendid beauty, or the pride you take in an achievement.
How do you pronounce “glory”?
“Glory” is pronounced GLAW-ree (/ˈɡloɹ.i/ in IPA).
How do you use “glory” in a sentence?
Here is “glory” used in a sentence: “The soldiers returned home to glory and celebration.”
What is another word for “glory”?
Words with a similar meaning to “glory” include praise, worship, fame, honor and honour.
What part of speech is “glory”?
Depending on how it is used, “glory” can be a noun and a verb.
Where does the word “glory” come from?
The word “glory” comes from Latin. From Old French glorie, from Latin gloria, meaning fame, honour, or renown.
Is “glory” a common word?
“Glory” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B1 level.
How many meanings does “glory” have?
“Glory” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: great honour, fame, or admiration earned through achievement.
What is the difference between glory and fame?
Fame simply means being widely known, whether for good or bad reasons, while glory carries a stronger sense of honour and admiration earned through real achievement. A person can be famous without glory, but glory usually implies praise and distinction.
When should you use "glory" instead of "splendour"?
Use "glory" when you mean honour or renown won through accomplishment, and "splendour" when you mean magnificent beauty. Glory can cover both senses, but splendour focuses only on visual magnificence.
What are common phrases and collocations with "glory"?
Common collocations include "in all its glory," "blaze of glory," "bask in the glory," and "glory days." These usually emphasise either a peak of achievement or striking magnificence.
Is "glory" a formal or informal word?
"Glory" works in both registers but leans formal, literary, or religious, especially in phrases like "to God be the glory." In casual speech it appears mainly in set expressions such as "glory days."
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