glorious

adjective

glo·​ri·​ous ˈglȯr-ē-əs How to pronounce glorious (audio)
1
a
: possessing or deserving glory : illustrious
had a long and glorious military career
b
: entitling one to glory
a glorious victory
2
: marked by great beauty or splendor : magnificent
a glorious sunset
3
: delightful, wonderful
had a glorious weekend
gloriously adverb
gloriousness noun
Choose the Right Synonym for glorious

splendid, resplendent, gorgeous, glorious, sublime, superb mean extraordinarily or transcendently impressive.

splendid implies outshining the usual or customary.

the wedding was a splendid occasion

resplendent suggests a glowing or blazing splendor.

resplendent in her jewelry

gorgeous implies a rich splendor especially in display of color.

a gorgeous red dress

glorious suggests radiance that heightens beauty or distinction.

a glorious sunset

sublime implies an exaltation or elevation almost beyond human comprehension.

a vision of sublime beauty

superb suggests an excellence reaching the highest conceivable degree.

her singing was superb

Examples of glorious in a Sentence

He had a long and glorious military career. The old ruins give only a hint of the city's glorious past. The government has described the battle as a glorious victory. Our room had a glorious view of the mountains.
Recent Examples on the Web Still, Kimmel and Ryder slipped back in — and then had a glorious evening. Michael Schneider, Variety, 8 Mar. 2024 For one glorious month, people could bring their canoes and kayaks to paddle in the shallow waters that had collected in the saltwater flats of the Badwater Basin, a sight not seen since the lake last appeared in 2005. Jireh Deng, Los Angeles Times, 6 Mar. 2024 Simone Biles has worn a lot of gold over her glorious career. Christopher Kuhagen, Journal Sentinel, 6 Mar. 2024 As for that glorious paintwork, the color is called Orange Brulé. Howard Walker, Robb Report, 4 Mar. 2024 Sedona, Arizona: Home of the dazzling red rocks, Sedona has a bit of everything: memorable outdoor activities, like hiking along the red rocks and birdwatching to glorious spas, all set along a beautiful backdrop. Dominique Fluker, Essence, 4 Mar. 2024 Hendrick’s Grand Cabaret is designed to appeal to free-spirited souls seeking a wildly indulgent, yet refreshing spirit for glorious gatherings of all manner — inspired by Parisian parties in the 1920s when stone fruit was all the rage. Amber Love Bond, Forbes, 1 Mar. 2024 This then is a story that ends with me watching Interstellar and listening to its soaring soundtrack in glorious high fidelity, but begins with my wife’s childhood in North Carolina. IEEE Spectrum, 28 Feb. 2024 The Sunseeker 120, which was unveiled at the Monaco Yacht Show last September, features a glorious elevated foredeck with a plush lounge area and a giant six-person Jacuzzi right at the bow. Rachel Cormack, Robb Report, 23 Feb. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'glorious.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Anglo-French & Latin; Anglo-French glorios, from Latin gloriosus glorious, vainglorious, from gloria

First Known Use

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of glorious was in the 13th century

Dictionary Entries Near glorious

Cite this Entry

“Glorious.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/glorious. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

glorious

adjective
glo·​ri·​ous ˈglōr-ē-əs How to pronounce glorious (audio)
ˈglȯr-
1
a
: possessing or deserving glory : illustrious
b
: bringing glory
glorious victory
2
: having great beauty or splendor
a glorious sunset
3
: delightful
had a glorious day
gloriously adverb
gloriousness noun

More from Merriam-Webster on glorious

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