glimmer

1 of 2

verb

glim·​mer ˈgli-mər 

glimmered; glimmering ˈgli-mə-riŋ 

ˈglim-

intransitive verb

1

a

: to shine faintly or unsteadily

The candles glimmered in the windows.

b

: to give off a subdued unsteady reflection

Her white satin dress glimmered in the dusk.

2

: to appear indistinctly with a faintly luminous quality

glimmer

2 of 2

noun

1

a

: a feeble or intermittent light

the first glimmer of dawn

b

: a subdued unsteady shining or sparkle

2

a

: a dim perception or faint idea : inkling

gave them a glimmer of what they could expect

b

: hint, spark

a glimmer of intelligence

a glimmer of hope

Synonyms

Verb

• coruscate
• flame
• flash
• glance
• gleam
• glint
• glisten
• glister
• glitter
• luster
• lustre
• scintillate
• shimmer
• spangle
• sparkle
• twinkle
• wink
• winkle

Noun

• ace
• bit
• crumb
• dab
• dram
• driblet
• hint
• lick
• little
• mite
• nip
• ounce
• particle
• peanuts
• ray
• scintilla
• scruple
• shade
• shadow
• shred
• skosh
• smack
• smell
• smidgen
• smidgeon
• smidgin
• smidge
• snap
• soupçon
• spark
• spatter
• speck
• splash
• spot
• sprinkling
• strain
• streak
• suspicion
• tad
• touch
• trace

Choose the Right Synonym for glimmer

flash, gleam, glint, sparkle, glitter, glisten, glimmer, shimmer mean to send forth light.

flash implies a sudden outburst of bright light.

lightning flashed

gleam suggests a steady light seen through an obscuring medium or against a dark background.

lights gleamed in the valley

glint implies a cold glancing light.

glinting steel

sparkle suggests innumerable moving points of bright light.

the sparkling waters

glitter connotes a brilliant sparkling or gleaming.

glittering diamonds

glisten applies to the soft sparkle from a wet or oily surface.

glistening wet sidewalk

glimmer suggests a faint or wavering gleam.

a distant glimmering light

shimmer means shining with a wavering light.

a shimmering satin dress

Examples of glimmer in a Sentence

Verb

Candles glimmered in the windows of the inn.

Moonlight glimmered on the pond.

Noun

the glimmer of a distant star

Their first meeting with the new boss gave them a glimmer of what they could expect.

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

With the White House glimmering behind her, Vice President Kamala Harris gave an impassioned closing argument to the American people. —Kizzy Cox, Essence, 30 Oct. 2024

Fantastic creatures At least two species of firefly glimmered in the night sky in the Mesozoic Era, according to new research. —Jackie Wattles, CNN, 26 Oct. 2024

Noun

The procedure offers a glimmer of hope after months of loss. —Emily Palmer, People.com, 28 Oct. 2024

There had been a glimmer of hope over the weekend when the company and union leaders reached a preliminary agreement, thanks partly to an intervention from Acting Secretary of Labor Julie Su. —Melvin Backman, Quartz, 24 Oct. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Verb and Noun

Middle English glimeren; akin to Old English glǣm gleam

First Known Use

Verb

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Noun

1590, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing glimmer

• glimmer/ray of hope

Kids Definition

glimmer

noun

glim·​mer

ˈglim-ər

1

a

: a feeble or unsteady light

b

: a soft shimmer

2

a

: a faint idea : inkling

b

: a small amount : bit

glimmer verb