Illustration of laurel
- laurel 1
1
: an evergreen shrub or tree (Laurus nobilis of the family Lauraceae, the laurel family) of southern Europe with small yellow flowers, fruits that are ovoid blackish berries, and evergreen foliage once used by the ancient Greeks to crown victors in the Pythian games
called also bay, sweet bay
2
: a tree or shrub that resembles the true laurel
especially
: mountain laurel
3
a
: a crown of laurel awarded as an honor
b
: a recognition of achievement : honor
—usually used in plural
laureled or laurelled; laureling or laurelling
: to deck or crown with laurel
Examples of laurel in a Sentence
Noun
They enjoyed the laurels of their military victory.
The player earned his laurels from years of hard work.
Recent Examples on the Web
Yadira Sanchez Olson, Chicago Tribune, 10 Apr. 2025
Like Majid Al Futtaim, Zimmer isn't resting on his laurels and although his first Academy Award came in 1995 for The Lion King, his second was just three years ago for Dune.
—Caroline Reid, Forbes.com, 7 Apr. 2025
In her right hand, the female figure holds laurel leaves, which Roman priestesses and priests once used to purify spaces.
—Sonja Anderson, Smithsonian Magazine, 2 Apr. 2025
Both trails were lined with some of my favorite native vegetation, including mountain lilac, laurel sumac and sage.
—Maura Fox, San Diego Union-Tribune, 31 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for laurel
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Noun
But the center’s staff isn’t sitting on its laurels.
—Yadira Sanchez Olson, Chicago Tribune, 10 Apr. 2025
Like Majid Al Futtaim, Zimmer isn't resting on his laurels and although his first Academy Award came in 1995 for The Lion King, his second was just three years ago for Dune.
—Caroline Reid, Forbes.com, 7 Apr. 2025
In her right hand, the female figure holds laurel leaves, which Roman priestesses and priests once used to purify spaces.
—Sonja Anderson, Smithsonian Magazine, 2 Apr. 2025
Both trails were lined with some of my favorite native vegetation, including mountain lilac, laurel sumac and sage.
—Maura Fox, San Diego Union-Tribune, 31 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for laurel
Cite this Entry
“Laurel.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/laurel. Accessed 20 Apr. 2025.
Copy CitationBiographical Definition
Laurel
biographical name
Lau·rel
ˈlȯr-əl 
ˈlär-
Stan 1890–1965 born Arthur Stanley Jefferson British comic actor in U.S.
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share