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 WebJade Simon, Vogue, 21 June 2024
The album’s title track starts slow, with a guitar squeaking quietly as Moctar cries out the title as the first lyrics, his voice bending with a soft, twinkling percussion.
—Haben Kelati, Washington Post, 19 June 2024
Mikey O'Connell, The Hollywood Reporter, 17 June 2024
Reflecting on his life’s work, Mr. Leonard’s eyes twinkle with quiet satisfaction.
—Chris Gallagher, USA TODAY, 29 May 2024
See all Example Sentences for twinkle 
Verb
Bordered by Japanese maples, rosebushes, and hydrangeas, the hotel’s terrace is a discreet spot where guests can sit around ceramic tables under a green gazebo, admiring a fresco on the bar by Pierre Mesguich and the twinkling lights that illuminate this magical garden at night.
—Jade Simon, Vogue, 21 June 2024
The album’s title track starts slow, with a guitar squeaking quietly as Moctar cries out the title as the first lyrics, his voice bending with a soft, twinkling percussion.
—Haben Kelati, Washington Post, 19 June 2024
Noun
He’s known to be this guy who can get away with things with a twinkle in his eye.
—Mikey O'Connell, The Hollywood Reporter, 17 June 2024
Reflecting on his life’s work, Mr. Leonard’s eyes twinkle with quiet satisfaction.
—Chris Gallagher, USA TODAY, 29 May 2024
See all Example Sentences for twinkle
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'twinkle.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near twinkle
Cite this Entry
“Twinkle.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/twinkle. Accessed 2 Jul. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
twinkle
2 of 2 noun1
: a very short time
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share