# glow-up

Pronunciation: say "GLOH-up" US /ˈɡloʊˌʌp/, UK /ˈɡləʊˌʌp/

## Noun

1. A major, impressive transformation in the appearance, talent, power, or similar qualities of someone or something. *(slang)*
   - Simple: A big, impressive change in the looks, skills, or power of someone or something.
   - _Between the new haircut and his newfound confidence, his senior-year glow-up was hard to miss._
   - _The team's glow-up from last-place joke to title contender took just one season._

## Verb · glow up

Pronunciation: say "gloh-UP" US /ˌɡloʊ ˈʌp/, UK /ˌɡləʊ ˈʌp/

2. To go through a major, impressive transformation in appearance, talent, power, or similar qualities. *(slang)*
   - Simple: To change in a big, impressive way, such as in looks, skills, or power.
   - _Some of my classmates have glowed up so much since graduation that I barely recognize them._
   - _Fans love watching child actors glow up over the years of a long-running show._
3. To give someone or something a major, impressive transformation in appearance, talent, power, or similar qualities. *(slang)*
   - Simple: To change someone or something in a big, impressive way, such as in looks, skills, or power.
   - _With the latest update, the camera app has been glowed up with sharper night shots and softer portrait lighting._
   - _The new owners hired a designer to glow up the tired old diner with neon signs and red booths._

## Origin

From glow + up, modelled on nouns formed from verbs such as blow-up. Historically it was probably not formed from the verb glow up, which was itself back-formed from the noun.

Source: DictionaryAI, https://dictionaryai.com/define/glow-up (written from Wiktionary data, CC BY-SA 4.0: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/).