gloat
B2Informal to neutral, with strong negative connotations.
Definition
Meaning
To dwell on or contemplate one's own success, good fortune, or another's misfortune with smug, excessive pleasure.
To exhibit or feel a sense of boastful, self-satisfied, and often malicious delight.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Strongly implies a lack of empathy or sportsmanship. The focus can be on one's own success (often seen as boastful) or on another's failure (often seen as spiteful or mean-spirited).
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in meaning or usage. The word is used similarly in both varieties.
Connotations
Universally negative, associated with poor character and lack of grace.
Frequency
Slightly more common in UK English according to corpus data, but widely understood and used in both.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[SUBJ] gloat over/at/about [OBJ][SUBJ] gloat (that) [CLAUSE]Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Don't gloat. (common admonishment)”
- “gloat over someone's misfortunes”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Used critically to describe a competitor's or colleague's unbecoming celebration after a win or another's project failure. 'The sales team tried not to gloat after securing the major client.'
Academic
Rare in formal academic prose. Might appear in literary criticism or historical analysis of character behaviour.
Everyday
Common in discussions of sports, games, rivalries, or personal achievements/mishaps. 'He's been gloating about his promotion all week.'
Technical
Not used in technical contexts.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- It's unsporting to gloat over a defeated opponent.
- She couldn't resist gloating about her exam results.
American English
- He had a gloating look on his face after winning the bet.
- Don't gloat, it's not a good look.
adverb
British English
- He smiled gloatingly as his rival struggled.
- She watched gloatingly from the sidelines.
American English
- He spoke gloatingly of his former competitor's bankruptcy.
- The commentator remarked gloatingly on the underdog's mistake.
adjective
British English
- He shot her a gloating smirk.
- The article was written in a gloating tone.
American English
- She gave a gloating laugh when her prediction came true.
- His gloating attitude made everyone dislike him.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- He won the game and started to gloat.
- It's not nice to gloat when someone loses.
- The manager warned the team not to gloat over their victory in the press.
- She tried to hide her gloating smile when her idea was chosen.
- Despite his inclination to gloat over his rival's professional demise, he maintained a facade of solemnity.
- The politician's memoir was criticised for its gloating recounting of decades-old political battles.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a GOAT (Greatest Of All Time) who is LOUD about it = GLOAT. It's like a boastful goat bleating about its victory.
Conceptual Metaphor
PLEASURE IS SWELLING/VISIBLE DISPLAY (To gloat is to visibly swell with pride or pleasure, often at another's expense).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Не путать с 'гордиться' (to be proud) – 'gloat' негативно. Ближе по смыслу к 'злорадствовать' или 'наслаждаться (чем-то в ущерб другому)'. Прямого однозначного эквивалента нет.
Common Mistakes
- Using it positively (e.g., 'I gloat in my family's success' – incorrect, use 'rejoice').
- Confusing it with 'gloating' as an adjective for a facial expression (e.g., 'a gloating smile').
Practice
Quiz
Which of the following best describes the act of gloating?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is almost exclusively negative. It describes pleasure taken in a way that is considered boastful, unkind, or lacking in grace.
'Over' is the most common and strong collocation (e.g., 'gloat over a victory'). 'About' and 'at' are also used.
Yes, 'gloating' can function as a noun (e.g., 'His gloating was insufferable').
Both are negative. 'Boast' focuses on talking proudly about oneself. 'Gloat' focuses on the feeling and display of smug pleasure, which can be silent, and often includes an element of delight in another's failure.