gloat

C1 Topic:Actions & Processes

US /ɡloʊt/ UK /ɡləʊt/ See IPA manual

Minimal pairs

Sounds like groat /l/ vs /r/

Freq #18144

Meanings

1

verb
usually disapproving: to feel or show excessive satisfaction about one's success or another person's misfortune

You may celebrate the victory, but there is no need to gloat.
2

noun
mainly British, informal: an occasion of expressing self-satisfied pleasure

He allowed himself a brief gloat after proving the critics wrong.

Verb forms

Verb forms are not available for this word yet.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

1 verb · usually disapproving: to... crow boast revel triumph

2 noun · mainly british, informal:... smug satisfactiontriumph

Opposites

commiserate sympathize console

Word family

Forms gloatedgloating

Derived forms gloater

Related forms smugnessschadenfreude boast

Etymology

From Middle English gloten or glouten, probably from Old Norse glotta 'to grin or smile scornfully.' Earlier Germanic relatives referred to staring or gawking; the modern word centers on visibly self-satisfied pleasure.

Topics

Actions & Processes Register & Style

External links

markdown