# glory

/ˈɡɫɔɹi/ (US) · /ɡlˈɔːɹi/ (UK)

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

## Senses

### 1. fame and honor

noun · CEFR B2

great fame or honor that you get when you do something very impressive.

For teachers: high renown or honor won by notable achievements.

- The soldiers fought bravely, but they were not looking for personal glory.
- The young athlete dreamed of Olympic glory, spending every waking hour training for the moment she might stand on the podium.

### 2. magnificent beauty

noun · CEFR B2 · Literary

great beauty or something that is very impressive to look at.

For teachers: magnificence or great beauty; a state of high splendor.

- We woke up early to see the sunrise in all its glory.
- The restored cathedral was finally revealed in its full glory, with the gold leaf reflecting the afternoon sun.

### 3. religious praise

noun · CEFR C1 · Formal

praise and worship given to God.

For teachers: the manifestation of divine presence or the worship offered to a deity.

- The choir sang a hymn to the glory of God.
- The theological text explores the concept of divine glory as an inherent attribute of the creator rather than a bestowed honor.

### 4. a halo or light

noun · CEFR C2 · Technical

a circle of light shown around the head of a holy person in a painting.

For teachers: a luminous ring or halo represented in art around the head or body of a sacred figure.

- The saint was painted with a golden glory behind his head.
- The pilot observed a pilot's glory, a rare optical phenomenon where the aircraft's shadow is surrounded by rainbow-like rings on the clouds below.

Usage: In meteorology, it refers specifically to an optical phenomenon of concentric rings around a shadow.

### 5. to take pride in

verb · CEFR C1 · Literary

to feel very happy and proud about something you have done.

For teachers: to take great pride or pleasure in something; to exult.

- He seemed to glory in his reputation as a difficult boss.
- The victors continued to glory in their success long after the actual competition had concluded, much to the annoyance of their rivals.

Usage: Usually followed by the preposition 'in'.

## Examples

- The soldiers fought for the glory of their country.
- The athlete returned home to a hero's welcome, basking in the glory of her Olympic gold medal.
- The cathedral was restored to its former glory, with every gold leaf detail and stained-glass window shining as brightly as they did five centuries ago.

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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.