glory
gb/ɡlˈɔɹi/ us/ɡlˈɔɹi/
B2
English
~ 5100
dicsőség, pompa, gyönyörűség, büszkeség, ékesség, fénykor, régi fény, te jó ég, hála az égnek, örömét leli valamiben, tetszeleg
NOUN
B2
1
dicsőség
B1
Usage pattern:
[someone] wins glory for [something]
She dreamed of winning Olympic glory for her country.
Arról álmodott, hogy olimpiai dicsőséget szerez hazájának.
The general returned home in glory after the victory.
A tábornok a győzelem után dicsőséggel övezve tért haza.
Many young players are more interested in personal glory than in helping the team.
His scientific discoveries brought him international glory.
They fought for the glory of their nation.
Learner examples
He won glory when he saved the child.
Dicsőséget szerzett azzal, hogy megmentette a gyereket.
The singer found glory after her first big song.
Az énekesnő az első nagy slágere után dicsőségre tett szert.
The team played for glory, not for money.
Her book brought her great glory around the world.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes use 'a glory' when talking about fame, saying things like *'He won a glory.'* In this sense, 'glory' is usually uncountable: say 'He won glory' or 'He won great glory.' Learners may also confuse 'glory' with the adjective 'glorious'; use 'glorious' before a noun (e.g. 'a glorious win'), and 'glory' as a noun (e.g. 'win glory').
Meaning
fame and admiration for success
Collocations
win glory
|seek glory
|bask in glory
|covered in glory
|military glory
|Olympic glory
Synonyms
fame (Focuses on being widely known, without always implying respect or honor.)
|
honor (Stresses moral respect and recognition, not just public attention.)
|
renown (More formal; emphasizes being well known and respected, often in a field.)
Antonyms
disgrace (Public shame caused by bad behavior, the opposite of public glory.)
|
obscurity (Being unknown and unnoticed, as opposed to being widely praised.)
Themes
emotions
|society
|sports
|military
|core_vocabulary
|communication
Definition
Great fame and praise that many people give you when you do something very good or important.
High renown, honor, or praise that many people give someone because of great success or impressive achievements.
NOUN
B2
2
pompa
B2
gyönyörűség
B2
Usage pattern:
the glory of [something]
We watched the mountain in all its glory as the sun came up.
Napkeltekor teljes pompájában láttuk a hegyet.
The garden is a riot of color, a real glory in the spring.
A kert tavasszal a színek kavalkádja, igazi gyönyörűség.
The cathedral's full glory is revealed when it is lit at night.
They were amazed by the glory of the desert sky.
In autumn, the forest reaches its greatest glory.
Learner examples
We saw the city in all its glory from the hill.
A dombról teljes pompájában láttuk a várost.
The flowers are a glory in the summer garden.
A virágok igazi pompát adnak a nyári kertnek.
The movie shows the glory of the sea at sunset.
Tourists come to enjoy the natural glory of the mountains.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes try to use 'glory' directly before a noun to mean 'beautiful', for example *'a glory sky'*. In this sense, 'glory' is a noun, not an adjective. Say 'a sky of great glory' or 'the sky in all its glory', or use 'glorious' as an adjective: 'a glorious sky'.
Meaning
great beauty or splendor
Collocations
the glory of nature
|in all its glory
|the full glory
|autumn glory
|the glory of the sunset
Synonyms
splendor (Emphasizes rich, impressive appearance, often in formal or literary style.)
|
magnificence (Focuses on being grand and impressive, often large or richly decorated.)
Antonyms
ugliness (Direct opposite, stressing something that is unpleasant to look at.)
|
plainness (Lack of special beauty or decoration, the opposite of visual glory.)
Themes
nature
|art
|emotions
|core_vocabulary
|arts_entertainment
Definition
Very great beauty or splendor that makes something look wonderful.
Impressive beauty, richness, or splendor that makes something look wonderful or magnificent.
NOUN
B2
3
dicsőség
B1
Usage pattern:
give glory to [God/someone]
They sang hymns to the glory of God.
Himnuszokat énekeltek Isten dicsőségére.
The church was built to give glory to God, not to the king.
A templom azért épült, hogy Isten dicsőségét hirdesse, ne a királyét.
She said that all the glory for her success belongs to God.
The believers prayed, 'Glory to God in the highest.'
He wanted his life to bring glory to God.
Learner examples
The choir sings for the glory of God.
A kórus Isten dicsőségére énekel.
They give glory to God for the miracle.
A csodáért Istennek adnak dicsőséget.
She says all the glory goes to God, not to her.
The song gives glory to God and thanks him.
Common mistake:
Learners may not realize this sense is mainly religious. In everyday non‑religious talk, it is more natural to say things like 'credit', 'praise', or 'attention' instead of 'glory'.
Meaning
honor and praise given to God
Collocations
the glory of God
|give glory to God
|for the glory of God
|all the glory
|glory and praise
Synonyms
worship (Emphasizes acts of religious devotion, not just the idea of honor.)
|
praise (Focuses on spoken or sung words that say good things about God.)
Antonyms
blasphemy (Speech that shows deep disrespect for God, opposite of giving glory.)
|
dishonor (Lack of respect or action that takes away respect from God.)
Themes
religion
|emotions
|communication
Definition
Honor and praise that people give to God or a god, especially in religious songs or prayers.
Honor, praise, and worship that belong to or are given to God or a deity, especially in religious language.
NOUN
C1
4
Usage pattern:
[someone/something] is the glory of [group/place]
Their children are their greatest glory.
A gyermekeik a legnagyobb büszkeségük.
The museum is the glory of this small town.
A múzeum ennek a kisvárosnak a büszkesége.
That win remains the glory of his long career.
The library is the university's pride and glory.
This old bridge is one of the glories of the city.
Learner examples
Her son is her pride and glory.
A fia a büszkesége és a szeme fénye.
The football team is the glory of the school.
A futballcsapat az iskola büszkesége.
That song is the band’s greatest glory.
The castle is the glory of the island.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse this sense with simple beauty. When you say something is 'the glory of' a place, you usually mean it makes the place proud, not only that it looks nice.
Meaning
someone or something you are proud of
Collocations
pride and glory
|the family's glory
|his greatest glory
|the glory of the team
|the nation's glory
Synonyms
pride (Commonly used in 'pride and joy'; often very close in meaning in this sense.)
|
showpiece (Something kept or shown because it is the best example, especially of a place or collection.)
Antonyms
shame (A person or thing that makes you feel bad or embarrassed, opposite of a 'glory'.)
|
disgrace (Something that damages a person’s or group’s good name, the opposite of a source of glory.)
Themes
family
|emotions
|society
|relationships
|core_vocabulary
Definition
A person or thing that makes someone or a group feel very proud.
Someone or something that brings a person, group, or place a strong feeling of pride and admiration.
NOUN
B2
5
Usage pattern:
return [something] to its former glory
The club hopes to return to its former glory under the new coach.
A klub abban bízik, hogy az új edzővel visszanyeri régi fényét.
In their glory days, they were the best rock band in the world.
Fénykorukban ők voltak a világ legjobb rockzenekara.
The old theater has lost much of its former glory.
Fans still talk about the team’s brief period of glory in the 1990s.
The city is trying to restore the harbor to its past glory.
Learner examples
The team wants to get back to its old glory.
A csapat szeretne visszatérni régi fényéhez.
This town had its glory days when the factory was open.
Ez a város akkor élte a fénykorát, amikor még működött a gyár.
The hotel has been rebuilt to its former glory.
He remembers the glory of his early career.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes say *'bring it back to the glory'* instead of 'bring it back to its former glory' or 'return it to its former glory'. The noun usually appears in fixed phrases like 'former glory', 'past glory', or 'glory days'.
Meaning
time or state of peak success
Collocations
former glory
|past glory
|glory days
|return to glory
|restore to its former glory
Synonyms
heyday (Informal; emphasizes the most successful and active period.)
|
prime (The time when a person or thing has its best strength or quality.)
Antonyms
decline (The process of becoming less powerful or successful, opposite of days of glory.)
|
downfall (A sudden loss of power or success, contrasting with a peak of glory.)
Themes
history
|sports
|society
|time
|core_vocabulary
Definition
The time or state when a person, team, place, or thing is at its best and most successful.
The period or condition when someone or something is at their most successful, powerful, or impressive.
C1
INFORMAL
6
"Glory!" she cried when she heard the good news.
„Hála az égnek!” – kiáltotta, amikor meghallotta a jó hírt.
"Glory, that was close," he said, wiping his forehead.
„Te jó ég, ez meleg helyzet volt” – mondta, miközben megtörölte a homlokát.
The old woman shook her head and whispered, "Glory, what is this world coming to?"
Learner examples
She shouted, "Glory!" when her team scored.
„Te jó ég!” – kiáltotta, amikor a csapata gólt szerzett.
The man said, "Glory, that was loud!"
A férfi azt mondta: „Te jó ég, de hangos volt!”
The old lady smiled and said, "Glory, you have grown!"
Common mistake:
Learners rarely use this form, but if they do, they may not realize it can sound old‑fashioned or very regional in modern English.
Meaning
exclamation of surprise or emotion
Synonyms
wow (Very common modern exclamation of surprise; does not usually carry religious tone.)
|
hallelujah (Exclamation of joy or relief with a clear religious origin, used both seriously and jokingly.)
Antonyms
oh no (Exclamation of dismay or disappointment, opposite in emotional direction to joyful 'Glory!'.)
Themes
emotions
|religion
|speech
|communication
|core_vocabulary
Definition
A word some people shout to show strong feeling, such as surprise or joy, often with a religious feeling.
An exclamation used, especially in some religious or regional varieties of English, to express surprise, excitement, or strong feeling.
VERB
C1
LITERARY
7
Usage pattern:
[someone] glories in [something]
He seemed to glory in making his opponents uncomfortable.
Úgy tűnt, örömét leli abban, hogy kellemetlen helyzetbe hozza az ellenfeleit.
They glory in their independence from big companies.
Örömüket lelik a nagy cégektől való függetlenségükben.
Some fans glory in the team's reputation for being difficult.
She openly glories in the fact that she never went to college.
The dictator gloried in his power while the people suffered.
Learner examples
He glories in his new success.
Örömét leli friss sikerében.
They glory in their status as outsiders.
Kívülálló státuszukban tetszelegnek.
She glories in the fact that she speaks five languages.
He seems to glory in breaking the rules.
Common mistake:
Learners may try to use 'glory' as a simple verb without 'in', for example *'He glories his success'*. The natural pattern is 'glory in something': 'He glories in his success.'
Meaning
take great pride or joy in
Collocations
glory in the fact
|glory in victory
|glory in their freedom
|glory in suffering
Synonyms
revel (Very close in meaning; common phrase is 'revel in', often with a slightly negative or excessive feeling.)
|
delight (To be very pleased by something; less strong or showy than 'glory in'.)
Antonyms
regret (To feel sad or sorry about something instead of taking pride in it.)
|
be ashamed of (To feel bad or embarrassed about something instead of glorying in it.)
Themes
emotions
|literature
|core_vocabulary
Definition
To feel or show very strong pride or joy in something.
To take great pride or joy in something, especially in a way that is very strong or that others may find excessive.
Grammar
Dictionary form
glory
IPA
GB/ɡlˈɔɹi/
US/ɡlˈɔɹi/
Syllables & stress
glory (1 syllable)
Stress on 1st syllable (glory)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: glory
- Plural: glories, glory
Verb
- Base: glory
- 3rd Person Singular: glories
- Present Participle: glorying
- Past: gloried
Word family
Expressions
bask in the glory of
1/bˈæsk ˈɪn ðə ɡlˈɔɹi əv/
fixed phrase
enjoy praise after success
To relax and enjoy the praise or success that comes after you have done something well.
Examples
- The players are still basking in the glory of their championship win.
- He sat back and basked in the glory of the crowd's applause.
- For weeks she basked in the glory of her promotion.
cover oneself in glory
1/kˈʌvɚ wˌʌnsˈɛlf ˈɪn ɡlˈɔɹi/
idiom
gain a lot of praise
To do something very well so that people praise you a lot; often used in the negative, meaning not to do well.
Examples
- The team did not exactly cover itself in glory in last night’s match.
- She covered herself in glory by leading the project to success.
- The company failed to cover itself in glory with the way it handled the crisis.
give the glory to
1/ɡˈɪv ðə ɡlˈɔɹi tə/
fixed phrase
say praise belongs to someone
To say that someone else should receive the praise for a success.
Examples
- He gave the glory to his team instead of taking it for himself.
- She gave all the glory to God after winning the award.
- The director gave the glory to the cast and crew.
glory be
1/ɡlˈɔɹi bˈi/
idiom
informal
exclamation of surprise or emphasis
An old‑fashioned or religious‑sounding phrase used to show surprise, pleasure, or strong feeling.
Examples
- Glory be, I never thought I’d see you again!
- Well, glory be, the train is actually on time.
- Glory be, that was a close one.
glory be to God
1/ɡlˈɔɹi bˈi tə ɡˈɑd/
fixed phrase
literary
say that praise belongs to God
A religious phrase used to say that all praise and honor should go to God.
Examples
- The congregation responded, "Glory be to God in the highest."
- Glory be to God, we made it home safely.
- She whispered, "Glory be to God," when she heard the good news.
glory in
1/ɡlˈɔɹi ˈɪn/
phrasal verb
literary
take strong pride or pleasure in
To feel or show very strong pride or pleasure in something, often in a way others may not like.
Examples
- He seems to glory in breaking the rules.
- They glory in their reputation as troublemakers.
- She glories in the fact that she proved everyone wrong.
go out in a blaze of glory
1/ɡˈoʊ ˈaʊt ˈɪn ə blˈeɪz əv ɡlˈɔɹi/
idiom
end in dramatic, impressive success
To finish or leave a situation in a very exciting and successful way that people will remember.
Examples
- He decided to go out in a blaze of glory and quit after winning the championship.
- The band went out in a blaze of glory with one final sold‑out tour.
- She left the company in a blaze of glory after closing the biggest deal in its history.
in all its glory
1/ˈɪn ˈɔl ˈɪts ɡlˈɔɹi/
idiom
fully visible and impressive
Completely and clearly seen, and looking very beautiful or impressive.
Examples
- We woke early to see the valley in all its glory at sunrise.
- The painting was restored and now stands in all its glory in the main hall.
- At night the city is lit up in all its glory.
return to its former glory
1/ɹɪtˈɚn tə ˈɪts fˈɔɹmɚ ɡlˈɔɹi/
fixed phrase
be restored to former best state
To become as good, successful, or beautiful as it was in the past.
Examples
- The hotel has been renovated and returned to its former glory.
- They hope the new coach will help the club return to its former glory.
- The project aims to bring the old town back to its former glory.
the glory days
1/ðə ɡlˈɔɹi dˈeɪz/
idiom
time of greatest success
The time in the past when a person, team, or thing was at its best and most successful.
Examples
- He loves to talk about the glory days of his youth.
- The company’s glory days are long gone.
- Fans hope the club’s glory days will return.