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
Jackie Charniga, USA Today, 12 Apr. 2025
The Meta deal underscores that White and the MMA giant aren’t resting on their laurels.
—Alex Weprin, HollywoodReporter, 2 Apr. 2025
But Benefit didn’t just rest on its laurels and hit copy and paste.
—Sophia Panych, Allure, 1 Apr. 2025
However what followed clearly showed that Lionel Scaloni’s men are not those who rest on their laurels.
—Joseph O'Sullivan, Forbes.com, 26 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for laurel
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Noun
Yet Bush warned shareholders that positive growth does not mean employees should rest on their laurels.
—Jackie Charniga, USA Today, 12 Apr. 2025
The Meta deal underscores that White and the MMA giant aren’t resting on their laurels.
—Alex Weprin, HollywoodReporter, 2 Apr. 2025
But Benefit didn’t just rest on its laurels and hit copy and paste.
—Sophia Panych, Allure, 1 Apr. 2025
However what followed clearly showed that Lionel Scaloni’s men are not those who rest on their laurels.
—Joseph O'Sullivan, Forbes.com, 26 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 1 May. 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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