glory
C1Formal, literary, religious
Definition
Meaning
Great honour, admiration, or praise earned through notable achievements or magnificence; high renown.
A state of magnificent beauty or splendour; a source of pride and admiration; the triumphant praise and worship ascribed to a deity in religious contexts.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Often implies grandeur, brilliance, or a triumph worthy of great admiration. Can refer to abstract praise (e.g., personal glory) or concrete, radiant beauty (e.g., the glory of a sunset). In religious contexts, it denotes the visible manifestation of God's presence and majesty.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant differences in meaning or usage. Both use "glory" in sporting, historical, and religious contexts. The noun "glory hole" has different, primarily negative connotations in AmE (a peep hole/disreputable bar) vs. BrE (a storage compartment or useful hole).
Connotations
Equally strong positive connotations in both varieties. Slightly more frequent in religious discourse in the US due to higher religiosity metrics.
Frequency
Similar overall frequency. Slightly higher relative frequency in AmE due to common phrases like "Glory be!" and "Old Glory" (the US flag).
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
to bask in the glory of [NP]to give glory to [NP]to achieve glory [through VP]to be in one's glory [doing something]to go to glory (euphemism for die)Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “rest on one's laurels”
- “a blaze of glory”
- “go out in a blaze of glory”
- “glory be!”
- “borrowed glory”
- “glory hole”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Rare. Used metaphorically in phrases like 'the glory days of the company' referring to a past period of great success.
Academic
Common in historical texts ('the glory of Rome'), literary analysis, and theology ('the glory of the Lord').
Everyday
Used for impressive natural scenes ('the glory of the mountains'), major achievements ('Olympic glory'), or sarcastically ('Well, that's a glory!' - ironic).
Technical
Specific theological term; also in heraldry and some historical/military studies.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- He gloried in his team's unexpected victory.
- She gloried in the intricate details of the historic manuscript.
American English
- They gloried in their national team's World Cup win.
- He gloried in the challenge of fixing the old engine himself.
adverb
British English
- (Rare/Non-standard) Not standard usage.
American English
- (Rare/Non-standard) Not standard usage.
adjective
British English
- The glory days of the British steel industry are long gone.
- It was a glory moment for the young scientist.
American English
- The team's glory years were in the late 90s.
- She recounted the glory story of her grandmother's immigration.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- The sunset was beautiful, full of colour and glory.
- He felt glory when he won the race.
- The ancient temple was built for the glory of their gods.
- She didn't want personal glory; she wanted the team to succeed.
- The athlete retired after one last, glorious season, going out in a blaze of glory.
- The film captures the faded glory of the once-grand hotel.
- He was accused of seeking reflected glory from his brother's achievements.
- The philosophical treatise explored the transient nature of earthly glory versus spiritual fulfilment.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a glorious, shining gold medal being placed around your neck while a crowd roars – that's GLORY. The word sounds like 'glisten' and 'story' – a shining story of success.
Conceptual Metaphor
GLORY IS LIGHT/BRIGHTNESS (bathed in glory, radiant with glory). GLORY IS A VALUABLE POSSESSION (seek glory, claim glory). GLORY IS A HIGH POSITION (rise to glory, pinnacle of glory).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Do not confuse with "глория" (a halo in art).
- The religious concept of "слава" (slava) maps closely, but the everyday use of "glory" for beauty/triumph is broader than "слава".
- "For the glory of it" does not mean "за славу", but rather "ради самого процесса, удовольствия".
Common Mistakes
- Using 'a glory' as a countable noun for a person (incorrect: *He is a glory. Correct: He is glorious/in his glory).
- Confusing 'glory' with 'gorgeous' (which is only for appearance).
- Overusing in informal contexts where 'greatness' or 'success' would suffice.
Practice
Quiz
In which context is the word 'glory' LEAST appropriate?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Overwhelmingly yes, but it can be used ironically or negatively in phrases like 'false glory' or when criticising someone for vanity ('he's only in it for the glory').
Yes, but it is formal/literary. 'To glory in' means to take great pride or pleasure in something (e.g., He gloried in his freedom).
Fame is simply being widely known. Glory implies the admiration and honour that comes from remarkable qualities or deeds. One can be famous for bad reasons, but glory is almost always positive and earned.
It is a central term referring to the manifest presence, splendour, and honour of God (e.g., 'the glory of the Lord', 'giving glory to God'). Phrases like 'Glory be to the Father' are common in prayers and hymns.