glow
B2Neutral
Definition
Meaning
To emit a steady, soft light without a flame; to shine.
To show a warm colour or a feeling of warmth, health, or pleasure; to be full of a positive emotion.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
"Glow" implies a diffused, often warm light (like from embers or a healthy complexion) rather than a sharp, directed beam. As a metaphor, it suggests a pleasant, internal state radiating outward.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant differences in meaning or usage.
Connotations
Identical connotations in both varieties.
Frequency
Equally common in both BrE and AmE.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
glow (with pride/health/pleasure)glow (in the dark)glow red/orange/yellowsomething glowsVocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “glow in the dark”
- “the glow of achievement”
- “be/feel all aglow”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Rare. Occasionally used metaphorically: 'The company continues to glow with financial health.'
Academic
Used literally in physics/chemistry ('bioluminescent glow') or metaphorically in social sciences.
Everyday
Common for describing light, complexions, and emotions: 'Her face glowed with happiness.'
Technical
Used in lighting ('LED glow'), astronomy ('airglow'), and biology ('foxfire glow').
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- The fire began to glow as the evening grew cold.
- His cheeks would glow after a brisk walk in the Cotswolds.
American English
- The exit signs must glow in case of a power outage.
- Her face glowed with pride at the graduation ceremony.
adverb
British English
- The mushrooms shone glow-in-the-dark green.
- The face paint was applied glowingly for effect.
American English
- The toy dinosaur's eyes were painted glow-in-the-dark red.
- The reviews for her performance came in glowingly positive.
adjective
British English
- This cream gives you a glow finish.
- The room was lit by glow sticks at the festival.
American English
- She used a glow stick to find her way in the dark.
- He applied a glow enhancer before the photoshoot.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- The nightlight glows in the dark.
- Her face had a nice glow after skiing.
- The dying embers of the campfire glowed red.
- He felt a warm glow of satisfaction after helping.
- The old watch dial glowed with a faint, eerie light.
- She was still glowing from the compliments she had received.
- A faint, bioluminescent glow emanated from the depths of the cave.
- The city was suffused with the amber glow of a pollution-enhanced sunset.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Remember 'glow' is like 'slow' light – it's a soft, gentle shine, not sudden or harsh.
Conceptual Metaphor
HEALTH/EMOTION IS LIGHT; A POSITIVE STATE IS A GLOWING OBJECT.
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Do not confuse with "светиться" when it means 'to be lit up by an external source'.
- Avoid using "глоу" (transliteration) – use proper translations like "свечение" (noun) or "светиться" (verb, for the core meaning).
- "Glow" implies an intrinsic light, unlike "блестеть" (to glitter/shine via reflection).
Common Mistakes
- Using 'glow' for strong, direct light (e.g., 'The torch glows brightly' – better: 'shines brightly').
- Confusing noun and verb patterns: Incorrect: 'She glowed her happiness.' Correct: 'She glowed *with* happiness.'
- Misspelling as 'gloaw' or 'glouw'.
Practice
Quiz
Which of these is NOT a typical metaphorical use of 'glow'?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
"Glow" is a soft, diffuse light (embers). "Shine" is more general, often brighter (sun, polished metal). "Gleam" is a quick, bright flash or a soft shine (wet street, eyes).
Yes, but mainly in compounds like 'glow-worm' or commercial/technical terms like 'glow stick'. It's not a standalone adjective (not 'The lamp is glow').
Nearly identical in meaning ('her face was aglow/glowing'), but 'aglow' is slightly more literary/poetic and is used only as an adjective complement ('She looked aglow'), not before a noun.
Commonly used for temporary states: 'Her face is glowing.' Also used for literal light: 'The display is glowing.' It's a dynamic verb in these contexts.