# Gloria

/ˈɡɫɔɹiə/ (US)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/gloria
Updated: 2026-08-15

## Senses

### 1. a hymn of praise

noun · CEFR C2 · Formal

a famous Christian hymn that begins with the words 'Glory to God in the highest'.

For teachers: The 'Gloria in excelsis Deo', a specific hymn of praise used in the liturgy of various Christian denominations.

- The choir sang a beautiful gloria during the Christmas service.
- The composer's setting of the gloria was particularly moving, featuring a complex interplay between the soprano soloists and the full cathedral choir.

Usage: Often capitalized as 'Gloria' when referring to the specific text or musical setting.

Teaching tip: This is a technical term for church music or liturgy; students will mostly encounter it in the context of classical music or religious services.

### 2. a short prayer

noun · CEFR C2 · Formal

a short prayer of praise to God used in many church services.

For teachers: A doxology, specifically the 'Gloria Patri', used to conclude psalms or other parts of a religious service.

- The congregation stood to recite the gloria together.
- In many traditional liturgies, the gloria serves as a brief but essential bridge between the reading of the psalms and the subsequent prayers.

## Examples

- The choir sang a beautiful Gloria during the morning service.
- The congregation stood in silence as the soloist began the opening lines of the Gloria.
- Vivaldi's Gloria remains one of the most celebrated choral masterpieces, frequently performed in concert halls as well as during sacred liturgies.

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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.