adj
Uncommon
glowing
GLOH-ihng
Glowing (adj) means giving off light or warmth. Example: “The glowing coals kept the tent warm all night.”
adj
1
Giving off light or warmth.
"The glowing coals kept the tent warm all night."
"A glowing fire in the hearth made the whole cottage feel cosy."
"The glowing screen lit up her face in the dark room."
2
Highly complimentary or full of praise.
"Nikkei reported other papers included text that said “do not highlight any negatives” and some gave more specific instructions on glowing reviews it should offer."
— Josh Taylor, Scientists reportedly hiding AI text prompts in academic papers to receive positive peer reviews (2025)
"She got a glowing recommendation from her former manager."
"He received glowing references from his previous employers."
"The film received glowing reviews from critics across the country."
"He gave a glowing account of his week at the summer camp."
How to use glowing
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishShining, or (of praise) enthusiastic and full of admiration.
Common pairings
glowing review
glowing recommendation
glowing embers
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Word forms
- Plural
- glowings
- Comparative
- more glowing
- Superlative
- most glowing
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Can you complete this real example?
The _____ coals kept the tent warm all night.
Related words
Rhymes for glowing
See all rhymes for glowing →Frequently asked questions
What does “glowing” mean?
The word “glowing” means giving off light or warmth. In plain terms, shining, or (of praise) enthusiastic and full of admiration.
How do you pronounce “glowing”?
“Glowing” is pronounced GLOH-ihng (/ˈɡloʊɪŋ/ in IPA).
How do you use “glowing” in a sentence?
Here is “glowing” used in a sentence: “The glowing coals kept the tent warm all night.”
What part of speech is “glowing”?
“Glowing” is an adjective.
Is “glowing” a common word?
“Glowing” is an uncommon word in modern English.
How many meanings does “glowing” have?
“Glowing” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: giving off light or warmth.
What is the difference between 'glowing' light and a 'glowing' review?
When describing light, glowing means giving off light or warmth, as in "glowing embers." When describing praise, glowing means highly complimentary or full of praise, as in "glowing reviews," a figurative extension of the idea of radiating warmth onto the subject being praised.
What is the difference between 'glowing' and 'shining'?
Glowing typically describes a soft, steady, often warm light, such as embers or a screen in the dark, while shining suggests a brighter, more direct reflection or emission of light. Only glowing carries the figurative sense of enthusiastic praise, as in a "glowing recommendation."
What kind of nouns commonly follow 'glowing' in praise contexts?
Common collocations include "glowing review," "glowing report," "glowing recommendation," and "glowing terms," all describing praise that is enthusiastic and highly favorable. These phrases use the figurative sense of glowing rather than the literal sense of emitting light.
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