glow

present singular third person glows · participle present glowing · past glowed · dialectal past glew · participle past glowed · dialectal participle past glew · dialectal participle past glown · first person past singular glowed · archaic present second person singular glowest · past second person singular glowed · archaic past second person singular glowedst · present singular third person glows · archaic present singular third person gloweth · past singular third person glowed · past plural glowed · past subjunctive glowed

1. intransitiveTo emit heat and light without a flame.

   Iron glows red hot when heated to near its melting point.

2. intransitiveOf a fire: to emit heat and light.

   The fire was still glowing after ten hours.

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   The mettled Steeds, vvhen from their Noſtrils flovvs / The ſcorching Fire, that in their Entrails glovvs.

   1717, Joseph Addison, “Book II. [The Story of Phaeton.]”, in Ovid’s Metamorphoses in Fifteen Books. […], London: […] Jacob Tonson, […], →OCLC, page 40

   To-night will I pure Magian be, / Hymns to thy [a fire's] sole honor raising, / While thou leapest fast and faster, / Wild with self-delighted glee, / Or sink'st low and glowest faintly / As an aureole still and saintly, / Keeping cadence to my praising / Thee! still thee! and only thee!

   1854 March, James Russell Lowell, “A Winter-evening Hymn to My Fire”, in Under the Willows and Other Poems, Boston, Mass.: Fields, Osgood, & Co., successors to Ticknor and Fields, published 1869, →OCLC, stanza I, page 161

   The Sun, how it gloweth, all day gloweth down, / On the gray of thy turrets, O wonderful town!

   1859, [Martha Perry Lowe], “A Song of the Sun. Seville.”, in The Olive and the Pine, Boston, Mass.: Crosby, Nichols, and Co., […], →OCLC, page 8

3. intransitiveTo emit light brightly and steadily as if heated to a high temperature; to shine.

   [N]ovv glovv'd the Firmament / VVith living Saphirs: […]

   1667, John Milton, “Book IV”, in Paradise Lost. […], London: […] [Samuel Simmons], and are to be sold by Peter Parker […]; [a]nd by Robert Boulter […]; [a]nd Matthias Walker, […], →OCLC, signature [N4], verso, lines 604–605

   1 more example

   The Temple ſhakes, the ſounding Gates unfold, / VVide Vaults appear, and Roofs of fretted Gold: / […] / Of bright, tranſparent Beryl vvere the VValls, / The Freezes Gold, and Gold the Capitals: / As Heaven vvith Stars, the Roof vvith Jevvels glovvs, / And ever living Lamps depend in Rovvs.

   1715, [Alexander] Pope, The Temple of Fame: A Vision, London: […] Bernard Lintott […], →OCLC, page 17

4. intransitiveTo be very hot; also, to be on fire; to burn.

   [T]he torrid Zone / Glovvs vvith the paſſing and repaſſing Sun.

   1697, Virgil, “The First Book of the Georgics”, in John Dryden, transl., The Works of Virgil: Containing His Pastorals, Georgics, and Æneis. […], London: […] Jacob Tonson, […], →OCLC, page 59, lines 322–323

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   Firſt vvith nice eye emerging Naiads cull / From leathery pods the vegetable vvool [cotton]; / VVith vviry teeth revolving cards releaſe / The tangled knots, and ſmooth the ravell'd fleece; / […] / Then fly the ſpoles, the rapid axles glovv, / And ſlovvly circumvolves the labouring vvheel belovv.

   1789, [Erasmus Darwin], “Canto II”, in The Botanic Garden; a Poem, in Two Parts. […], London: J[oseph] Johnson, […], published 1791, →OCLC, part II (The Loves of the Plants; 3rd edition), pages 61–62, lines 283–288

   [N]ow, evermore, till thy long race is run, mine eyes shall glow into thy brain, and mine arms shall clasp thee, when thou wouldst take the wings of the Morning, and flee from the embrace of Night!

   1842, [Edward Bulwer-Lytton], chapter XIII, in Zanoni. […], volume III, London: Saunders & Otley, […], →OCLC, 7th book (The Reign of Terror), page 257

5. figurativelyintransitiveOf a colour: to be bright; also, of a thing: to have a bright colour.

   The new baby’s room glows with bright, loving colours.

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   To vvhom the Angel vvith a ſmile that glovv'd / Celeſtial roſie red, Loves proper hue, / Anſvver'd.

   1667, John Milton, “Book VII”, in Paradise Lost. […], London: […] [Samuel Simmons], and are to be sold by Peter Parker […]; [a]nd by Robert Boulter […]; [a]nd Matthias Walker, […], →OCLC, signature [F3], verso, lines 1255–1257

   Vice dvvells in Palaces, is Richly Dreſt, / There glovvs in Scarlet, and the Tyrian Veſt.

   1693, Decimus Junius Juvenalis, John Dryden Jun., transl., “[The Satires of Decimus Junius Juvenalis.] The Fourteenth Satyr”, in The Satires of Decimus Junius Juvenalis. Translated into English Verse. […] Together with the Satires of Aulus Persius Flaccus. […], London: […] Jacob Tonson […], →OCLC, page 285, lines 241–242

   [T]he fair Fruit that on yon' Branches glovvs / VVith that ripe red th' Autumnal Sun beſtovvs, […]

   1712 May, Ovid, “The Fable of Vertumnus and Pomona; from the Fourteenth Book of Ovid’s Metamorphoses”, in [Alexander] Pope, transl., Miscellaneous Poems and Translations. […], London: […] Bernard Lintott […], →OCLC, page 135

   As ſhines the lily thro' the cryſtal mild; / Or as the roſe amid the morning devv, / Freſh from Aurora’s hand, more ſvveetly glovvs.

   a. 1749 (date written), James Thomson, “Summer”, in The Seasons, London: […] A[ndrew] Millar, and sold by Thomas Cadell, […], published 1768, →OCLC, pages 95–96, lines 1325–1326

   The hills glowed like purple amethysts, the sky glowed topaz and vermilion colours.

   1827 November 11 (date written), Walter Scott, “[Entry dated 11 November 1827]”, in David Douglas, editor, The Journal of Sir Walter Scott […], volume II, Edinburgh: David Douglas, published 1890, →OCLC, page 64

6. figurativelyintransitiveOf a person: to display intense emotion.

   a healthy glow

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   The zealots glowed with religious fervor.

   You are glowing from happiness!

   A fire vvhich every vvindy paſſion blovvs; / VVith pride it mounts, and vvith revenge it glovvs.

   1669 June (first performance), John Dryden, Tyrannick Love, or, The Royal Martyr. […], London: […] H[enry] Herringman, […], published 1670, →OCLC, Act II, scene iii, page 19

   But vvhile vvith fierceſt Ire Bellona glovvs, / And Europe rather Hopes than Fears Her Fate: / VVhile Britain preſes Her afflicted Foes: / VVhat Horror damps the Strong, and quells the Great?

   1706 (date written), Mat[thew] Prior, “An Ode, Humbly Inscrib’d to the Queen. On the Glorious Success of Her Majesty’s Arms, 1706. Written in Imitation of Spencer’s Stile.”, in Poems on Several Occasions, London: […] Jacob Tonson […], →OCLC, stanza XV, page 286

   Is it for him theſe Tears are taught to flovv, / For him theſe Sorrovvs? for my mortal Foe? / A gen'rous Friendſhip no cold Medium knovvs, / Burns vvith one Love, vvith one Reſentment glovvs; […]

   1717, Homer, “Book IX”, in Alexander Pope, transl., The Iliad of Homer, volume III, London: […] W[illiam] Bowyer, for Bernard Lintott […], →OCLC, page 36, lines 723–726

7. figurativelyintransitiveOf a person's body or a part of it: to feel hot and often to flush (“become suffused with a reddish colour”) as well, due to an emotional response, exertion, etc.

   After their workout, the gymnasts’ faces were glowing.

   5 more examples

   Moreover, is not this an opinion generally received, That vvhen our ears do glovv and tingle, ſome there be that in our abſence doe talke of us?

   1601, C[aius] Plinius Secundus [i.e., Pliny the Elder], “[Book XXVIII.] Whether Words, Spels, or Charmes, are Available in Physicke. Also whither Wonders and Strange Prodigies may be either Wrought and Procured, or Put by and Avoided by Them, or No..”, in Philemon Holland, transl., The Historie of the World. Commonly Called, The Naturall Historie of C. Plinius Secundus. […], 2nd tome, London: […] Adam Islip, →OCLC, page 297

   Did not he lead you through the Mid-day Sun, / And Clouds of Duſt? Did not his Temples glovv / In the ſame ſultry VVinds, and ſcorching Heats?

   1712 (date written), [Joseph] Addison, Cato, a Tragedy. […], London: […] J[acob] Tonson, […], published 1713, →OCLC, Act III, scene i, page 41

   She glovvs vvith Bluſhes, and ſhe hangs her Head.

   1717, John Dryden, “Book I. [The Transformation of Daphne into a Laurel.]”, in Ovid’s Metamorphoses in Fifteen Books. […], London: […] Jacob Tonson, […], →OCLC, page 22

   VVilliam, vvho high upon the yard [of a ship], / Rock'd vvith the billovv to and fro, / […] / The cord ſlides ſvviftly through his glovving hands, / And, (quick as lightning,) on the deck he ſtands.

   1720, John Gay, “[Miscellanies.] Sweet William’s Farewell to Black-eye’d Susan. A Ballad..”, in Poems on Several Occasions, volume II, London: […] Jacob Tonson, […], and Bernard Lintot, […], →OCLC, stanza II, page 405

   [H]er cheek glowed while she spoke; but an arch, provokiong smile was on her lips.

   1838, [Edward Bulwer-Lytton], chapter VII, in Alice or The Mysteries […], volume I, London: Saunders and Otley, […], →OCLC, book III, page 301

8. InternetUSfigurativelyintransitiveTo be involved in an (chiefly online) undercover sting operation, especially by American federal agencies.

   If this post glows any brighter I'm going to need sunglasses. 😄🕶👌

   2018 August 26, anonymous author, “Cryptographic Crumpling: The Encryption ‘Middle Ground’ for Government Surveillance”, in alt.privacy (Usenet)

9. InternetUSfigurativelyintransitiveTo create a threatening online post that may involve violence, and look suspicious enough to attract a police investigation.
10. archaicobsoletetransitiveTo emit (flame).

    Shall Pagan Pages glovv celeſtial Flame, / And Chriſtian, languiſh?

    1743, [Edward Young], “Night the Fourth. The Christian Triumph.”, in The Complaint: Or, Night-Thoughts on Life, Death, and Immortality, London: […] R[obert] Dodsley, […]; [a]nd sold by M[ary] Cooper, […], →OCLC, page 9

11. InternetfigurativelytransitiveTo expose (someone) to the authorities.
12. obsoletetransitiveTo make (something) hot; to heat.

    On each ſide her, / Stood pretty Dimpled Boyes, like ſmiling Cupids, / VVith diuers coulour'd Fannes vvhoſe vvinde did ſeeme / To gloue the delicate cheekes vvhich they did coole, / And vvhat they vndid did.

    c. 1606–1607 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of Anthonie and Cleopatra”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act II, scene ii], page 347, column 1

plural glows

1. countableuncountableA state of heat and light being emitted by a hot object.

   My garden is the cloven rock, / And my manure the snow; / And drifting sand-heaps feed my stock, / In summer's scorching glow.

   1847, R[alph] W[aldo] Emerson, “Woodnotes”, in Poems, Boston, Mass.: James Munroe and Company, →OCLC, part II, page 75

   3 more examples

   The struggling spark of good within, / Just smother'd in the strife of sin, / They quicken to a timely glow, / The pure flame spreading high and low.

   1827, [John Keble], “Fourth Sunday after Easter”, in The Christian Year: Thoughts in Verse for the Sundays and Holydays throughout the Year, volume I, Oxford, Oxfordshire: […] [B]y W. Baxter, for J. Parker; and C[harles] and J[ohn] Rivington, […], →OCLC, page 171

   [T]he light, though hidden by the corner, shone through the passage window and made a glow, in the air, a glow that could be seen, especially when the night was dark, from no less a distance than ten or fifteen paces. Thus all that Art and Con had to do, when the night was favourable, was to advance a little way along the avenue, until they reached the place whence the light, if it was burning, must be visible, as a glow, a feeble glow, in the air, and thence to go on, towards the back door, or to go back, towards the gate, as the case might be.

   1953, Samuel Beckett, chapter II, in Watt, 1st American edition, New York, N.Y.: Grove Press, published 1959, →OCLC, page 114

   The door of the twins' room opposite was open; a twenty-watt night-light threw a weak yellow glow into the passageway. David could hear the twins breathing in time with each other.

   1994, Stephen Fry, chapter 2, in The Hippopotamus, London: Quality Paperbacks Direct, page 23

2. countableuncountableA state of heat being emitted by a person or an animal's body.

   ["]You must be frozen." / "Well, Lizzie, I ain't of a glow; that's certain. And my hands seemed nailed through to the sculls. See how dead they are!"

   1864 May – 1865 November, Charles Dickens, “Cut Adrift”, in Our Mutual Friend. […], volume I, London: Chapman and Hall, […], published 1865, →OCLC, 1st book (The Cup and the Lip), page 56

   1 more example

   He had so heated himself with rapid walking in the fog and frost, this nephew of Scrooge's, that he was all in a glow; his face was ruddy and handsome; his eyes sparkled, and his breath smoked again.

   1843 December 19, Charles Dickens, “Stave I. Marley’s Ghost.”, in A Christmas Carol. […], London: Chapman & Hall, […], →OCLC, page 7

3. countableuncountableA state of light being emitted by something (for example, a bioluminescent animal or fungus, or a mineral) which is not hot; luminescence.

   So if you find yourself regularly up late at night, basking in the TV's glow, you might be doing more than just depriving yourself of sleep.

   2025 December 9, Veronique Greenwood, “Your Bedroom Probably Isn’t Dark Enough”, in Time, New York, N.Y.: Time Inc., →ISSN, →OCLC, archived from the original on 09 Dec 2025

4. countablefigurativelyuncountableA state of brightness or warmth of colour; specifically, a reddish colour on a person's face indicating health or youth; a flush.

   He had a bright red glow on his face.

   5 more examples

   If you vvill ſee a pageant truely plaid / Betvveene the pale complexion of true Loue, / And the red glovve of ſcorne and provvd diſdaine, / Goe hence a little, and I ſhall conduct you / If you vvill marke it.

   c. 1598–1600 (date written), William Shakespeare, “As You Like It”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act III, scene iv], page 199, column 1

   As ſhines the lily thro' the cryſtal mild; / Or as the roſe amid the morning-devv / Puts on a vvarmer glovv.

   1730, James Thomson, “Summer. Inscribed to the Right Honourable Mr. Dodington.”, in The Seasons, London: [s.n.], →OCLC, page 112, lines 1025–1027

   [T]he roſes on thoſe cheeks are ſhaded vvith a ſort of velvet dovvn, that gives a delicacy to the glovv of health.

   1775 November 21 (first performance), R[ichard] B[rinsley] Sheridan, The Duenna: A Comic Opera. […], London: […] G[eorge] Woodfall, […], for T[homas] N[orton] Longman, […], published 1794, →OCLC, Act II, scene i, page 33

   The Moon is in her summer glow, / But hoarse and high the breezes blow, / And, racking o'er her face, the cloud / Varies the tincture of her shroud; […]

   1813, Walter Scott, “Canto First”, in Rokeby; a Poem, Edinburgh: […] [F]or John Ballantyne and Co. […]; London: Longman, Hurst, Rees, Orme, and Brown; by James Ballantyne and Co., […], →OCLC, stanza I, page 3

   O! not for thee the glow, the bloom, / ⁠Who changest not in any gale! / ⁠Nor branding summer suns avail / To touch thy thousand years of gloom.

   1850, [Alfred, Lord Tennyson], “Canto II”, in In Memoriam, London: Edward Moxon, […], →OCLC, stanza 3, page 2

5. countablefigurativelyuncountableA condition of being passionate or having warm feelings; an ardour.

   […] Romola felt herself surrounded and possessed by the glow of his passionate faith.

   1862 July – 1863 August, George Eliot [pseudonym; Mary Ann Evans], “An Arresting Voice”, in Romola. […], volume II, London: Smith, Elder and Co., […], published 1863, →OCLC, book II, page 263

   2 more examples

   There's not a joy the world can give like that it takes away, / When the glow of early thought declines in feeling's dull decay; […]

   1815 March (date written), Lord Byron, “Stanzas for Music”, in Poems, London: […] [F]or John Murray, […]; by W[illiam] Bulmer and Co. […], published 1816, →OCLC, stanza 1, page 16

   "And you come, brother," said Mr. Wegg, in a hospitable glow, "you come like I don't know what—exactly like it—I shouldn't know you from it—shedding a halo all around you."

   1864 May – 1865 November, Charles Dickens, “The Golden Dustman Falls into Worse Company”, in Our Mutual Friend. […], volume II, London: Chapman and Hall, […], published 1865, →OCLC, 3rd book (A Long Lane), page 45

present singular third person glows · participle present glowing · participle past glowed · past glowed

1. dialectalintransitiveobsolete except UKTo look intently; to stare.

   Then he glowed on me / With all his face and eyes.

   1856, Elizabeth Barrett Browning, “Second Book”, in Aurora Leigh, London: Chapman and Hall, […], published 1857, →OCLC, page 55

   2 more examples

   Borgnoyer. To vvant an eye; to looke, or ſee but vvith one eye; […] alſo, to glovv, glote, or loure.

   1611, Randle Cotgrave, compiler, “Borgnoyer”, in A Dictionarie of the French and English Tongues, London: […] Adam Islip, →OCLC, signature Eeee iij, recto, column 1

   [A] thouſand frantick Spirits / Peep'd from the VVatry brink, and glovv'd upon me.

   1679, [John] Dryden, [Nathaniel] Lee, Oedipus: A Tragedy. […], London: […] R. Bentley and M. Magnes […], →OCLC, Act IV, page 60