gloat

1 of 2

verb

gloated; gloating; gloats

intransitive verb

1
: to observe or think about something with triumphant and often malicious satisfaction, gratification, or delight
gloat over an enemy's misfortune
2
obsolete : to look or glance admiringly or amorously
gloater noun
gloatingly adverb

gloat

2 of 2

noun

: the act or feeling of one who gloats

Example Sentences

Verb After such a tough campaign, they're gloating over their victory in the election.
Recent Examples on the Web
Verb
Mills extended an olive branch in victory, urging her supporters not to gloat. David Sharp, BostonGlobe.com, 9 Nov. 2022 Hours after the meeting ended, both countries announced in a joint statement that Mexico had agreed to spend $1.5 billion on border infrastructure between 2022 and 2024 — allowing the White House to gloat on Twitter. Tracy Wilkinson, Los Angeles Times, 12 July 2022 At the time, President George H.W. Bush did tell his lieutenants not to gloat, but Sixsmith, somewhat begrudgingly, gives him no credit. Evan Thomas, Washington Post, 22 July 2022 Tim Allen will try not to gloat too hard about the Lightyear disaster. Brendan Morrow, The Week, 30 June 2022 While Vernon refused to gloat over his Conn Smythe effort, his teammates were quite willing to do it for him. Gene Myers, Detroit Free Press, 7 June 2022 Republicans will pocket November but shouldn’t gloat. Daniel Henninger, WSJ, 25 May 2022 However the current crash-in-progress is bringing out the no-coiners to gloat as if equities are somehow obviously the only game to play with investing. Clem Chambers, Forbes, 19 May 2022 Outside the party, employees of an Axie competitor couldn't help but gloat over cigarettes. Jon Sarlin, CNN, 3 Apr. 2022
Noun
Not bad for an offense that just a few weeks ago was thought to be searching for an identity, but Taylor didn’t gloat. Michael Niziolek, cleveland, 24 Oct. 2022 Continue reading … ‘A FLOP’ - MSNBC, CNN, ABC and more gloat over Sussmann acquittal and cast doubt on Durham probe. Fox News Staff, Fox News, 2 June 2022 But Democrats shouldn’t fear, nor Republicans gloat, that this means the end of the Biden agenda. The Editorial Board, WSJ, 7 June 2021 The person who finds the pickle gets to open the first present, and gloat about it until the next year. Lizz Schumer, Good Housekeeping, 16 Nov. 2020 Having just won his boss a stonking 87-seat majority, Mr Cummings may have been unable to resist a little gloat. The Economist, 18 Jan. 2020 That vacation gloat so many of us succumb to on social media has trickled upward, as the president made a sort-of joke about how a little global warming might actually be appreciated for those Americans enduring the cold temperatures. Kaitlin Menza, Esquire, 29 Dec. 2017 See More

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'gloat.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Word History

Etymology

Verb and Noun

akin to Middle English glouten to scowl and perhaps to Old Norse glotta to grin scornfully

First Known Use

Verb

1605, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Noun

1899, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of gloat was in 1605

Dictionary Entries Near gloat

Cite this Entry

“Gloat.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/gloat. Accessed 7 Dec. 2022.

Kids Definition

gloat

verb
ˈglōt
: to gaze at or think about something with great satisfaction or joy
gloating over their enemy's loss
gloater noun

More from Merriam-Webster on gloat

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