glorious

IPA/ˈɡlɔːriəs/
KK[ɡlˈɔriəs]IPA/ˈɡlɔːriəs/

glorious — adjective

  • gloriouspositive
  • more gloriouscomparative
  • most glorioussuperlative

1. receiving or deserving great public admiration and honour because of important a

1.adjectiveB2
Definition

receiving or deserving great public admiration and honour because of important achievements or qualities

Example

The general returned home after a glorious victory that ended the long war.

collocation: glorious victory

Ramon's glorious academic career earned him respect across the whole university.

collocation: glorious career

Common collocations
  • glorious victory
  • glorious achievement
  • glorious history
  • glorious past
  • glorious career
  • glorious tradition
Synonyms
  • illustrious

    more formal and literary; suggests lasting fame earned through exceptional achievement

  • renowned

    focuses on being widely known and respected, with less emotional weight than 'glorious'

  • distinguished

    describes a person of high status or excellent reputation, less dramatic than 'glorious'

Antonyms

Grammar Patterns

glorious + noun

be/linking verb + glorious

Usage Note

Often used with abstract nouns such as victory, history, past, achievement, or career. When used about a person ('a glorious leader'), it carries a strong tone of admiration and is less common in everyday speech than in formal or historical writing.

Common Mistakes

The actor was so glorious that everyone knew his name.
The actor was so famous that everyone knew his name.
'glorious' emphasises honour and admiration, not just being widely known.

2. extremely beautiful and impressive, especially in a way that catches the eye thr

2.adjectiveB2
Definition

extremely beautiful and impressive, especially in a way that catches the eye through rich colour, light, or grand size

Example

From the hilltop, the glorious sunset painted the sky with deep orange and red.

collocation: glorious sunset

Saira wore a glorious silk dress with gold patterns to the ceremony.

Common collocations
  • glorious sunset
  • glorious view
  • glorious garden
  • glorious colours
  • glorious sight
  • glorious building
Synonyms
  • magnificent

    similar intensity; focuses on grand scale and splendour

  • splendid

    slightly old-fashioned; suggests rich, showy beauty

  • stunning

    more informal; emphasises the emotional impact of seeing something very beautiful

Antonyms
  • drab

    lacking brightness or colour

  • ugly

    plain opposite in appearance

Grammar Patterns

glorious + noun (sunset, view, colour, building)

Usage Note

Describes natural scenery (sunset, view, landscape), architecture, art, and colour. 'Glorious' in this sense is stronger than 'beautiful' and often suggests bright, rich, or dramatic visual qualities rather than delicate ones.

Common Mistakes

She bought a glorious little vase for the shelf.
She bought a beautiful little vase for the shelf.
'glorious' sounds too grand for small, modest objects; use 'beautiful' or 'lovely' instead.

3. (of weather) very pleasant because of strong sunshine and clear skies, often wit

3.adjectiveB1
Definition

(of weather) very pleasant because of strong sunshine and clear skies, often with warmth

Example

We had a glorious day at the beach with clear skies all afternoon.

collocation: glorious day

After weeks of rain, the glorious sunshine lifted everyone's mood.

collocation: glorious sunshine

Common collocations
  • glorious weather
  • glorious day
  • glorious sunshine
  • glorious summer
  • glorious morning
Synonyms
  • gorgeous

    equally common for weather; slightly more informal and general

  • beautiful

    less intense; a more neutral way to describe good weather

  • superb

    more formal; less commonly used for everyday weather talk

Antonyms
  • dull

    referring to grey, overcast weather

  • dreary

    describing gloomy, wet, or depressing weather

Grammar Patterns

glorious + weather/day/summer

be + glorious (describing weather)

Usage Note

This sense is particularly common in British English. 'Glorious weather' implies more than just 'good' or 'nice' weather — it suggests bright sunshine, clear blue skies, and a feeling of being outdoors in very pleasant conditions. It is not used for indoor temperature or descriptions of rain or cold.

Common Mistakes

The air conditioning made the room feel glorious.
The air conditioning made the room feel cool and comfortable.
'glorious' is not used for indoor temperature control.

4. giving someone a wonderful sense of happiness, freedom, or deep enjoyment

4.adjectiveB2
Definition

giving someone a wonderful sense of happiness, freedom, or deep enjoyment

Example

The children had a glorious time playing in the park all afternoon.

collocation: glorious time

After finishing her exams, Dahlia felt a glorious sense of freedom.

Common collocations
  • glorious feeling
  • glorious time
  • glorious freedom
  • glorious moment
  • glorious escape
Synonyms
  • wonderful

    more general and common; less intense than 'glorious'

  • sublime

    more literary; describes an experience of the highest, almost spiritual pleasure

  • heavenly

    informal and slightly old-fashioned; suggests extreme pleasure

Antonyms
  • miserable

    describing an unpleasant or unhappy experience

  • dreadful

    strong opposite; a very bad experience

Grammar Patterns

glorious + noun (feeling, time, freedom, moment)

be + glorious

Usage Note

Describes emotional experiences rather than activities. While you can call a party 'glorious', the word points more to how wonderful it felt than to the specific events. Frequently used with words like feeling, freedom, moment, and time.

Common Mistakes

The sandwich was glorious.
The sandwich was delicious.
'glorious' sounds too emotional and grand for everyday food; use 'delicious' or 'wonderful'.
Idioms

a glorious mess

idiom

a situation or place that is very untidy, chaotic, or complicated, but in a way that is accepted or even enjoyed rather than criticised

The kitchen was a glorious mess after the baking session, with flour everywhere and bowls stacked high.

Their travel plans turned into a glorious mess of missed trains and wrong turns, but they laughed about every mistake.

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: adjective/1

All four words describe a person or achievement worthy of honour and respect, but they differ in register and focus. 'Glorious' is the most emotionally intense — it suggests brilliant success that attracts public praise and admiration, often with a sense of grandeur or triumph (a glorious victory). 'Illustrious' is more formal and literary; it describes a long and celebrated career rather than a single achievement (an illustrious career in diplomacy). 'Renowned' focuses on being widely known for excellence, without the emotional weight of 'glorious' (a renowned scientist). 'Distinguished' emphasises high status earned through long, consistent quality work, and is often used for professionals such as professors or judges (a distinguished scholar). In everyday conversation, 'distinguished' is the most neutral and common, while 'glorious' is reserved for more dramatic or emotional contexts.

illustrious ↗renowned ↗distinguished ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

Adverbs

  • gloriously
  • absolutely glorious
  • truly glorious
  • quite glorious

Phrases

  • glorious in its...
  • something of glorious proportions

Etymology

LatinOld FrenchEnglish

The word 'glorious' comes from the Latin 'gloriosus', meaning 'full of glory', which was formed from 'gloria' (fame, renown, honour). It entered English through Old French 'glorieus' during the Middle English period, around the 14th century. The original sense was closely tied to religious honour and heavenly splendour before broadening to describe secular fame, beauty, and enjoyment.