twinkled; twinkling
ˈtwiŋ-k(ə-)liŋ 
1
: to shine with a flickering or sparkling light : scintillate
2
a
: to appear bright especially with merriment
his eyes twinkled
b
: to flutter the eyelids
3
: to flutter or flit rapidly
1
: to cause to shine with fluctuating light
2
: to flicker or flirt rapidly
twinkled the straight, red-lacquered toes—
Glenway Wescott
Glenway Wescott2
: a rapid flashing motion : flit
3
: a wink of the eyelids
4
: the instant's duration of a wink : twinkling
Synonyms
Examples of twinkle in a Sentence
Verb
The lights of the city twinkled in the distance.
Stars twinkle in the night sky.
Her eyes twinkled with excitement.
Noun
We saw the twinkle of a candle in the window.
in just a twinkle, the shooting star was gone
Recent Examples on the Web
PCMAG, 6 Nov. 2024
Andaz Mexico City Condesa, Mexico Every December, Mexico City transforms into a holiday wonderland with twinkling lights, a grand tree in the Zócalo (main square) and Christmas markets selling seasonal treats.
—Roger Sands, Forbes, 4 Nov. 2024
Rebecca Angel Baer, Southern Living, 29 Oct. 2024
When young Danny asks what the Donner Party was, Jack, with a sadistic twinkle in his eye, relates to him the story of how a group of settlers, stranded in the Sierra Nevada mountains, had to resort to cannibalism in order to survive.
—Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 11 July 2024
See all Example Sentences for twinkle 
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.
Verb
Shadow details are maintained while looking dark, and in one scene of a valley at dusk, the lights of houses twinkle brightly without showing any light bloom.
—PCMAG, 6 Nov. 2024
Andaz Mexico City Condesa, Mexico Every December, Mexico City transforms into a holiday wonderland with twinkling lights, a grand tree in the Zócalo (main square) and Christmas markets selling seasonal treats.
—Roger Sands, Forbes, 4 Nov. 2024
Noun
The Broadway star has partnered with HomeGoods to announce that November 1 is the first official day to bring out the tinsel and the twinkle lights.
—Rebecca Angel Baer, Southern Living, 29 Oct. 2024
When young Danny asks what the Donner Party was, Jack, with a sadistic twinkle in his eye, relates to him the story of how a group of settlers, stranded in the Sierra Nevada mountains, had to resort to cannibalism in order to survive.
—Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 11 July 2024
See all Example Sentences for twinkle
Dictionary Entries Near twinkle
Cite this Entry
“Twinkle.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/twinkle. Accessed 30 Nov. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
twinkle
2 of 2 noun1
: a very short time
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share