Glow vs. Shine: Know the Difference
By Shumaila Saeed || Updated on December 25, 2023
Glow is a soft, steady light or warmth; Shine is a bright, reflective or polished surface or light.
Key Differences
Glow typically refers to a soft, steady light or radiance often seen as warmth or a subtle illumination, whereas shine denotes a bright, reflective, or gleaming quality. Glow is more about a gentle, diffused light, while shine is about intensity and reflection.
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In terms of source, glow often implies an internal or inherent light, like the glow of a candle or the glow of health, while shine usually involves an external light source reflecting off a surface, such as sunlight shining on water.
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The emotional connotations differ too; glow is often used in a positive, comforting context (e.g., glowing with pride), while shine can have either a positive connotation (shining achievements) or suggest something superficial (shiny but not valuable).
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In application, glow is often used metaphorically to describe emotions or states (e.g., glowing review), whereas shine is frequently used literally to describe physical properties (e.g., polished shoes shining).
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The intensity and focus differ: glow suggests a diffused, widespread effect (e.g., a room glowing with light) versus shine which implies a focused, direct impact (e.g., light shining on an object).
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Nov 27, 2023
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Comparison Chart
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Glow and Shine Definitions
Glow
A feeling of warmth or pleasure.
She had a glow about her after receiving the good news.
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Shine
To be outstanding in performance.
She really shined in her new role at work.
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Glow
A steady radiance of light or heat.
The glow from the lantern lit up the room.
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Shine
Reflecting light, polished.
His polished shoes shined under the bright lights.
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Glow
A healthy, vibrant appearance.
His cheeks had a healthy glow after the jog.
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Glow
To shine brightly and steadily, especially without a flame
Embers glowed in the furnace.
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Shine
To excel or stand out in something.
Her talent for singing really shines.
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Glow
To have a bright, warm, usually reddish color
The children's cheeks glowed from the cold.
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Oct 19, 2023
Glow
Brilliance or warmth of color, especially redness
"the evening glow of the city streets when the sun has gone behind the tallest houses" (Seán O'Faoláin).
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Oct 19, 2023
Shine
Past tense and past participle shined To make glossy or bright by polishing.
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Glow
To emit light as if heated.
The fire was still glowing after ten hours.
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Glow
(copulative) To radiate thermal heat.
Iron glows red hot when heated to near its melting point.
After their workout, the gymnasts' faces were glowing red.
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Oct 19, 2023
Glow
To display intense emotion.
The zealots glowed with religious fervor.
You are glowing from happiness!
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Glow
To shine brightly and steadily.
The new baby's room glows with bright, loving colors.
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Oct 19, 2023
Glow
(intransitive) To feel hot; to have a burning sensation, as of the skin, from friction, exercise, etc.; to burn.
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Glow
To be related to or part of an (chiefly online) undercover sting operation, especially by American federal agencies.
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Glow
To create a threatening online post that may involve violence, and look suspicious enough to attract a police investigation.
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Shine
To distinguish oneself; to excel.
My nephew tried other sports before deciding on football, which he shone at right away, quickly becoming the star of his school team.
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Shine
To be eminent, conspicuous, or distinguished; to exhibit brilliant intellectual powers.
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Glow
The brilliance or warmth of color in an environment or on a person (especially one's face).
He had a bright red glow on his face.
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Glow
To shine with an intense or white heat; to give forth vivid light and heat; to be incandescent.
Glows in the stars, and blossoms in the trees.
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Shine
(transitive) To create light with (a flashlight, lamp, torch, or similar).
I shone my light into the darkness to see what was making the noise.
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Glow
To exhibit a strong, bright color; to be brilliant, as if with heat; to be bright or red with heat or animation, with blushes, etc.
Clad in a gown that glows with Tyrian rays.
And glow with shame of your proceedings.
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Shine
(transitive) To cause to shine, as a light or by reflected light.
In hunting, to shine the eyes of a deer at night by throwing a light on them
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Glow
To feel hot; to have a burning sensation, as of the skin, from friction, exercise, etc.; to burn.
Did not his temples glowIn the same sultry winds and acrching heats?
The cord slides swiftly through his glowing hands.
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Shine
(transitive) To cause (something) to shine; put a shine on (something); polish (something).
He shined my shoes until they were polished smooth and gleaming.
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Glow
To feel the heat of passion; to be animated, as by intense love, zeal, anger, etc.; to rage, as passior; as, the heart glows with love, zeal, or patriotism.
With pride it mounts, and with revenge it glows.
Burns with one love, with one resentment glows.
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Glow
To make hot; to flush.
Fans, whose wind did seemTo glow the delicate cheeks which they did cool.
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Glow
Brightness or warmth of color; redness; a rosy flush; as, the glow of health in the cheeks.
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Glow
Intense excitement or earnestness; vehemence or heat of passion; ardor.
The red glow of scorn.
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Glow
Heat of body; a sensation of warmth, as that produced by exercise, etc.
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Shine
(cricket) The amount of shininess on a cricket ball, or on each side of the ball.
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Glow
The phenomenon of light emission by a body as its temperature is raised
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Shine
(slang) A liking for a person; a fancy.
She's certainly taken a shine to you.
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Shine
To emit rays of light; to give light; to beam with steady radiance; to exhibit brightness or splendor; as, the sun shines by day; the moon shines by night.
Hyperion's quickening fire doth shine.
God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Cghrist.
Let thine eyes shine forth in their full luster.
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Glow
The amount of electromagnetic radiation leaving or arriving at a point on a surface
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Shine
To be bright by reflection of light; to gleam; to be glossy; as, to shine like polished silver.
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Shine
To be effulgent in splendor or beauty.
Once brightest shined this child of heat and air.
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Glow
Emit a steady even light without flames;
The fireflies were glowing and flying about in the garden
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Shine
To be eminent, conspicuous, or distinguished; to exhibit brilliant intellectual powers; as, to shine in courts; to shine in conversation.
Few are qualified to shine in company; but it in most men's power to be agreeable.
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Glow
Especially of the complexion: show a strong bright color, such as red or pink;
Her face glowed when she came out of the sauna
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Shine
To cause to shine, as a light.
He [God] doth not rain wealth, nor shine honor and virtues, upon men equally.
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Glow
Shine intensely, as if with heat;
The coals were glowing in the dark
The candles were burning
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Shine
To make bright; to cause to shine by reflected light; as, in hunting, to shine the eyes of a deer at night by throwing a light on them.
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Oct 19, 2023
Shine
The quality or state of shining; brightness; luster, gloss; polish; sheen.
Now sits not girt with taper's holy shine.
Fair opening to some court's propitious shine.
The distant shine of the celestial city.
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Glow
Experience a feeling of well-being or happiness, as from good health or an intense emotion;
She was beaming with joy
Her face radiated with happiness
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Glow
Soft light emitted by something.
The glow of the fireplace created a cozy atmosphere.
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Shine
Be bright by reflecting or casting light;
Drive carefully--the wet road reflects
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Shine
Emit light; be bright, as of the sun or a light;
The sun shone bright that day
The fire beamed on their faces
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Shine
Especially of the complexion: show a strong bright color, such as red or pink;
Her face glowed when she came out of the sauna
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Shine
Throw or flash the light of (a lamp, etc.);
Shine the light on that window, please
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Shine
Touch or seem as if touching visually or audibly;
Light fell on her face
The sun shone on the fields
The light struck the golden necklace
A strange sound struck my ears
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Shine
Experience a feeling of well-being or happiness, as from good health or an intense emotion;
She was beaming with joy
Her face radiated with happiness
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Repeatedly Asked Queries
Can glow be used to describe feelings?
Yes, it often describes a warm, positive emotion.
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Nov 27, 2023
Is glow natural or artificial?
It can be both, like a glowing firefly or a light bulb.
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Is shine always physical?
Mostly, but it can describe metaphorical shining, like in talents.
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Can shine be used in a non-literal way?
Yes, like shining in a performance.
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Is shine associated with reflection?
Yes, it often involves light reflecting off surfaces.
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Is shine more intense than glow?
Yes, it's typically brighter and more focused.
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Nov 27, 2023
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About Author
Written by
Shumaila SaeedShumaila Saeed, an expert content creator with 6 years of experience, specializes in distilling complex topics into easily digestible comparisons, shining a light on the nuances that both inform and educate readers with clarity and accuracy.
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