Glower
/ˈɡlaʊər/
verbnounB2
Definition
Glower means to stare in a way that shows anger or disapproval. It is usually a fixed, strong look that can make others feel uncomfortable. As a noun, a glower is the angry or fierce look itself.
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See It in Action
Verb: To look at someone angrily or with strong disapproval
- •She glowered at him after he broke her favorite vase.
- •The teacher glowered at the noisy students in the back of the class.
- •He glowered across the room, clearly upset by what he saw.
Noun: The angry or fierce look itself
- •His glower made everyone feel uneasy.
- •She gave him a cold glower when he arrived late.
- •The glower in his eyes showed he was serious and angry.
Make It Stick
- ✓Think of 'glower' like 'look,' but with strong anger or unhappiness behind the eyes
- ✓Picture someone frowning deeply, with their eyebrows pulled down and eyes fixed on someone they are upset with
- ✓It is the feeling when you see someone very angry, but they do not say anything, just stare hard
- ✓Sounds like 'glower' → imagine a 'flower' that suddenly looks dark and serious instead of bright and happy
- ✓In stories, villains often glower at heroes to show their anger without words
- ✓NOT like 'glow' (which means to shine brightly), 'glower' is a dark, angry look, not light
- ✓NOT like 'smile' (happy face), 'glower' is the opposite: angry or serious face
- ✓NOT like 'stare' (just looking), 'glower' carries strong emotion—anger or disapproval behind the look
Try Other Words
- •Scowl: a facial expression showing anger or disapproval (Use when the angry look is very clear and usually involves a furrowed brow)
- •Glare: to look at someone angrily or fiercely (Use when the look is sharp and often longer, more intense than glower)
- •Frown: to make a sad or worried face (Use when the emotion is less angry and more unhappy or confused)
Unboxing
- •Word parts: No clear prefix or suffix; root 'glow' + '-er' but meaning is different
- •Etymology: From Old English 'glōrian,' meaning to stare or look fiercely
- •Historical development: Originally meant to stare with anger or intensity; has kept this meaning in modern English
- •Modern usage: Used to describe angry or serious looks, often in literature and everyday speech
- •Interesting fact: The word sounds like 'glow' but means almost the opposite in feeling—dark and angry rather than bright and warm
Reflect & Connect
•When have you seen someone glower in real life, and what did it make you feel?
•How can a glower change the mood of a room without any words being spoken?
Fill in the blanks
1.She glowered at him because he ___ her trust by lying.
2.A teacher might glower ___ noisy students to stop them from talking.
3.Unlike a simple stare, a glower shows ___ or strong disapproval.
4.Sometimes people glower ___ when they are upset but do not want to say anything.
5.A cold glower often ___ a warning to others without using words.
6.When he glowered, his ___ and eyebrows made his anger clear.
7.You can tell someone is angry if their glower is ___ and fixed on you.