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Meaning & use

glowing

adjective·Everyday

Last updated

UK/ˈɡləʊɪŋ/
US/ˈɡloʊɪŋ/

Meanings

  1. adjectivebefore a nounapprovingfigurative

    Extremely favorable and full of praise.

    Grammar: Comes before a noun: a glowing review.

    Patterns

    • a glowing review
    • glowing terms

    The restaurant received a glowing review in the newspaper.

    Her teacher wrote a glowing reference.

    He spoke of the team in glowing terms.

  2. adjectivecomparable

    Giving off a steady, soft light or heat without a flame.

    Grammar: Before a noun or after a verb: glowing embers.

    Patterns

    • glowing embers
    • glowing with something

    We sat beside the glowing embers of the campfire.

    The phone screen was a glowing rectangle in the dark.

    The sunset left a glowing orange band on the horizon.

  3. adjectivecomparable

    Having a warm, healthy color or look, especially in the face.

    Grammar: Used for skin and cheeks, often after a verb: she looked glowing.

    Patterns

    • glowing with health
    • glowing cheeks

    After the walk, her cheeks were glowing.

    The bride looked glowing and happy.

    He came back from holiday with glowing skin.

Word forms

comparativemore glowing
superlativemost glowing

Common combinations

glowing review
The play earned a glowing review.
glowing reference
She left with a glowing reference.
glowing tribute
He paid a glowing tribute to his mentor.
glowing embers
The embers were still glowing.
glowing terms
The mayor spoke of the volunteers in glowing terms.

Synonyms and how they differ

enthusiastic
Enthusiastic describes excited feelings, while glowing describes strongly positive praise.
rave
Rave is informal and applies only to reviews, as in a rave review.
radiant
Radiant describes bright, happy appearance, and is more poetic than glowing.
complimentary
Complimentary is any kind of praise, but glowing is warmer and stronger.

Opposites

scathingcritical

Word family

glow verb
to give off a soft light
glow noun
a soft light or warmth
glowingly adverb
in an enthusiastic way
aglow adjective
shining or warm in color

Commonly confused: glowing or flowing?

glowing vs flowing

Flowing means moving smoothly as a liquid does, and the g of glowing makes it a different word.

Practice

The director was thrilled by the ___ reviews of her debut film.

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