morning-glory: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
LowInformal, Literary, Botanical
Quick answer
What does “morning-glory” mean?
A climbing plant with trumpet-shaped flowers that typically open in the morning and close by afternoon.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A climbing plant with trumpet-shaped flowers that typically open in the morning and close by afternoon.
Something that is brilliant or successful only briefly, especially at the beginning; a short-lived phenomenon or person.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in meaning. The plant is known in both regions, though more common in warmer climates. The metaphorical use is understood in both.
Connotations
In both varieties, the literal meaning is neutral/positive (beautiful flower). The metaphorical use carries a slightly negative or wistful connotation (transience, unfulfilled potential).
Frequency
Slightly more common in American English, both for the plant and the metaphorical sense.
Grammar
How to Use “morning-glory” in a Sentence
The [athlete/stock] was a morning-glory, fading after a strong start.The fence was covered in [colour] morning-glories.Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “morning-glory” in a Sentence
adjective
British English
- He had a morning-glory stint at the club, brilliant for two matches then injured.
- The morning-glory effect of the policy was soon evident.
American English
- It was a morning-glory stock, skyrocketing on day one then crashing.
- She dismissed him as just another morning-glory quarterback.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Used metaphorically to describe a product, company, or employee that shows initial promise but fails to sustain performance. (e.g., 'Their new app was a morning-glory in the competitive market.')
Academic
Primarily used in botanical contexts. The metaphorical use might appear in literary or sociological analysis discussing transient phenomena.
Everyday
Most common when discussing gardening or describing something/someone who didn't live up to early potential.
Technical
Specific to horticulture and botany, referring to plants of the genus Ipomoea.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “morning-glory”
- Using 'morning glory' as a verb (it is not standard).
- Confusing it with 'glory of the morning', which is a specific plant (Chasmanthe) or a different metaphor.
- Omitting the hyphen (though this is increasingly accepted).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
The hyphenated form is considered standard, especially in formal writing and dictionaries. However, the open form 'morning glory' is very common, particularly in informal contexts and gardening catalogs.
No, 'morning-glory' is not standard as a verb. It functions primarily as a noun and, occasionally, as an adjective in metaphorical uses.
They are close synonyms. 'Morning-glory' often carries a more poetic or visual connotation (linking to beauty that fades), while 'flash in the pan' originates from mining and emphasizes a brief, fiery event that produces no lasting result.
Yes, many species of morning-glory seeds contain lysergic acid amides, which are psychoactive and can be toxic if ingested in large quantities. They should not be consumed.
A climbing plant with trumpet-shaped flowers that typically open in the morning and close by afternoon.
Morning-glory is usually informal, literary, botanical in register.
Morning-glory: in British English it is pronounced /ˌmɔː.nɪŋ ˈɡlɔː.ri/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌmɔːr.nɪŋ ˈɡlɔːr.i/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “A morning-glory career”
- “To be a morning-glory in the garden of life”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a glorious flower you see only in the MORNING; by the afternoon, its glory is gone—just like a short-lived success.
Conceptual Metaphor
SUCCESS IS A FLOWER THAT WITHERS QUICKLY. / BRILLIANCE IS EPHEMERAL LIGHT (like the morning sun).
Practice
Quiz
In which context is 'morning-glory' LEAST likely to be used?