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
Terri Williams, Forbes, 10 Mar. 2025
Then a massive laurel oak — more than a hundred years old — in their front yard toppled onto the roof of their home off Markham Woods Drive and punched a hole through the roof, sending a branch into their kitchen.
—Martin E. Comas, Orlando Sentinel, 10 Mar. 2025
Filmmakers will also receive a digital package with screening laurels — logos celebrating a film’s festival program selection.
—Brayden Garcia, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 10 Mar. 2025
All these laurels have turned the family film into a point of pride in China at a time when President Donald Trump is imposing new tariffs on the country.
—Rebecca Rubin, Variety, 25 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for laurel
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Noun
The matching sheet set is available in complementary colors, including blue infinity, blue shale, white, cream, laurel green, cinder, gray mist, and stone gray.
—Terri Williams, Forbes, 10 Mar. 2025
Then a massive laurel oak — more than a hundred years old — in their front yard toppled onto the roof of their home off Markham Woods Drive and punched a hole through the roof, sending a branch into their kitchen.
—Martin E. Comas, Orlando Sentinel, 10 Mar. 2025
Filmmakers will also receive a digital package with screening laurels — logos celebrating a film’s festival program selection.
—Brayden Garcia, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 10 Mar. 2025
All these laurels have turned the family film into a point of pride in China at a time when President Donald Trump is imposing new tariffs on the country.
—Rebecca Rubin, Variety, 25 Feb. 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 21 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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