# gloating

/ˈɡɫoʊtɪŋ/ (US) · /ɡlˈəʊtɪŋ/ (UK) · CEFR B2 · Adjective

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/gloating
Updated: 2026-10-15

## Definition

showing smug happiness about your own win or about someone else failing. You use it when someone keeps showing off in a way that feels unkind.

For teachers: smug or self-satisfied delight in one's own success or another person's misfortune, expressed openly in a way others find unpleasant.

## Examples

- His gloating after the win annoys everyone.
- After beating her brother at chess, she cannot hide her gloating and keeps replaying her final move.
- The losers left quietly while the winners' open gloating filled the room, turning a fair contest into an awkward display of pride.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.