Glowing
adjective /ˈɡləʊɪŋ/ — Emitting steady light — and suffused with warmth, health, or approval.
Definition
Emitting light and heat without flame; having a steady, warm light; (of a person's face or body) radiating color and warmth; highly complimentary.
Beyond the definition
Glowing is warmth made visible — the steady light that comes from within rather than reflecting from without. A glowing complexion, a glowing review, a glowing coal: all share the quality of the internal light, the warmth that generates rather than just reflects.
Origin & history
From Old English glōwan — to glow (from Proto-Germanic *glōaną: to glow). The generation of warmth and light — glow as the quality of things that are warm all the way through.
Example sentences
Illustrative sentences for learning, not verified community posts or sourced quotations.
Her face was glowing after the run — the exercise made visible from the outside.
The reference was glowing — every sentence made the case more strongly.
The city glowing at dusk: not bright but warm, the million small lights combining into something habitable.
How to use it
This entry uses an adjective. Follow the examples for the nouns it describes and its position in the sentence.
Choose “Glowing” when the meaning fits your context: Emitting light and heat without flame; having a steady, warm light; (of a person's face or body) radiating color and warmth; highly complimentary.
Synonyms
Antonyms
dull, cold, dark
Related words
Word in the Wild
See how this word appears in life, language and stories.
Illustrative sentences and imagined stories for learning — not verified sightings, interviews, or sourced quotations.
Fictional scene
Glowing Forest Entrance Talisman
An adult carries a small, luminous talisman at the entrance to a dark forest, casting a soft, warm light forward.
The talisman provides a steady, warm light in a dark space, illustrating the quality of glowing. It represents light emitted without a flame, radiating a warmth that illuminates the immediate surroundings and creates a sense of focused, interior radiance.
Image credit: Wordspun · AI-generated conceptual illustration
Questions about this word
What does "Glowing" mean?
Glowing is adjective meaning: Emitting steady light — and suffused with warmth, health, or approval.. Emitting light and heat without flame; having a steady, warm light; (of a person's face or body) radiating color and warmth; highly complimentary.
Where does the word "Glowing" come from?
From Old English glōwan — to glow (from Proto-Germanic *glōaną: to glow). The generation of warmth and light — glow as the quality of things that are warm all the way through.