glory
Great honor and praise for something impressive or beautiful.
Glory is great honor, praise, and admiration that comes from doing something exceptional or being part of something magnificent. When an Olympic athlete wins a gold medal, they bask in the glory of their achievement. When soldiers return home after defending their country, they may be honored for their courage and sacrifice.
Glory suggests something more lasting and impressive than ordinary praise. A student who wins a spelling bee might feel proud, but a scientist who discovers a cure for a disease achieves lasting glory. The word often appears in phrases like moment of glory (a brief time when someone experiences great success) or former glory (past greatness that has faded).
In sports, athletes compete for glory: the honor and respect that comes with winning, beyond any trophy or prize. Teams dream of glory days when they dominated their sport. The phrase no guts, no glory reminds us that achieving something glorious usually requires taking risks and working hard.
Glory can also describe magnificent beauty or splendor. We might speak of autumn leaves in their full glory or the glory of a sunrise over the ocean. Religious contexts use glory to describe divine majesty and brilliance.
The word carries a sense of something radiant and triumphant, whether describing personal achievement, natural beauty, or a nation's proudest moments.