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
Jim Hemphill, IndieWire, 18 Mar. 2025
Never one to rest on his laurels, Brewer’s latest project is Perilune, a limited-edition Chardonnay and Pinot Noir that explores and rediscovers a new expression of these grapes through the use of concrete eggs, a first for him.
—Mike Desimone and Jeff Jenssen, Robb Report, 18 Mar. 2025
With half a century in music and an unbeatable massive catalog of work, Elton John could easily rest on his laurels and enjoy his status as an icon without releasing any new material.
—Chris Malone Mendez, Forbes, 8 Mar. 2025
In Greek mythology, Daphne was a nymph who turned into a laurel tree.
—Ryan Brennan, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 30 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for laurel
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Noun
Throughout the process, Levinson was struck by how committed De Niro was to those possibilities, and by the actor’s refusal to rest on his laurels.
—Jim Hemphill, IndieWire, 18 Mar. 2025
Never one to rest on his laurels, Brewer’s latest project is Perilune, a limited-edition Chardonnay and Pinot Noir that explores and rediscovers a new expression of these grapes through the use of concrete eggs, a first for him.
—Mike Desimone and Jeff Jenssen, Robb Report, 18 Mar. 2025
With half a century in music and an unbeatable massive catalog of work, Elton John could easily rest on his laurels and enjoy his status as an icon without releasing any new material.
—Chris Malone Mendez, Forbes, 8 Mar. 2025
In Greek mythology, Daphne was a nymph who turned into a laurel tree.
—Ryan Brennan, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 30 Jan. 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 28 Mar. 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.
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