glimpse

1 of 2

verb

glimpsed; glimpsing

transitive verb

: to get a brief look at
glimpsed him as he sped by in his car

intransitive verb

1
: to look briefly
glimpsed at the letter and then threw it aside
2
archaic : glimmer
glimpser noun

glimpse

2 of 2

noun

1
: a fleeting view or look
caught only a glimpse of the mugger
2
archaic : glimmer

Examples of glimpse in a Sentence

Verb We glimpsed him through the window as his car sped past. just glimpsed at the photo then turned his attention elsewhere Noun We caught a glimpse of him through the window as his car sped past. I only got a glimpse of him as we drove by.
Recent Examples on the Web
Verb
Chinese astronomers may have spotted Pons-Brooks in 1385, and an Italian astronomer may have glimpsed it in 1457. Carlyn Kranking, Smithsonian Magazine, 11 Mar. 2024 Its stars can be glimpsed in a telescope’s same field of view as small, diffuse patches of light northwest of Dubhe in the Big Dipper. Jamie Carter, Forbes, 29 Feb. 2024 In Webb's three years, the telescope has offered stunning views of our solar system's planets, galaxies, stars and other parts of the universe never glimpsed before. USA TODAY, 1 Feb. 2024 The traditional dress of the Kazakh eagle hunters can be glimpsed in the hooded down jacket made from chinchilla and cashmere blend with fox-fur trim, while the red and saffron hues of monks’ robes appear in scarves and sweaters. Jen Murphy, Robb Report, 21 Jan. 2024 In these coastal areas, you're invited to lounge on the beaches, see the sunset, and glimpse a wild pony or two. Southern Living Editors, Southern Living, 4 Mar. 2024 Heading down the gravel road and into the expanse of nature, a world not often glimpsed by many Floridians opens up all around. Ryan Ballogg, Miami Herald, 29 Feb. 2024 Cinema can already glimpse the desert of cinema in the distance. Elizabeth Barber, Harper's Magazine, 9 Feb. 2024 Again, there are mysterious stories at play, and glimpses into the interior lives of lovers. Gia Kourlas, New York Times, 2 Feb. 2024
Noun
Celine Dion is giving fans a glimpse into her struggles living with stiff person syndrome. Jay Stahl, USA TODAY, 16 Mar. 2024 But the records from the city, first reported by the Long Beach Business Journal, have offered a glimpse into the significant costs that have come with the city’s effort to keep and preserve the iconic vessel. Salvador Hernandez, Los Angeles Times, 14 Mar. 2024 This event offered a glimpse into the vibrant music scenes of Houston, St. Louis, Miami, New York, Philadelphia, and Atlanta. Shelby Stewart, Essence, 14 Mar. 2024 Brief, dramatic glimpses of Liu, reportedly set to play an antagonist, and Brown are shown in the trailer, but details about their roles are still a mystery. Jessica Wang, EW.com, 13 Mar. 2024 The display illuminates the untold stories of those who kept the royal court running over 300 years ago A glimpse into the lives in the royal era that inspired the Netflix hit Bridgerton is unveiled in a new exhibit at Kensington Palace. Simon Perry, Peoplemag, 12 Mar. 2024 In comparison, my grandmother was an exciting and inspirational figure who offered me a glimpse of what life could be for a woman freed from masculine or societal authority. Lyn Slater, Condé Nast Traveler, 12 Mar. 2024 The recent incident, although rare, does offer a glimpse into what a hybrid connectivity solution would look like, providing internet from both underwater cables, as well as orbital satellites. Passant Rabie / Gizmodo, Quartz, 9 Mar. 2024 But that’s just a small glimpse into a man seen as a sports hero in America and as a god in his native Puerto Rico. Stephen Rodrick, Variety, 8 Mar. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'glimpse.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Verb and Noun

Middle English glimsen; akin to Middle High German glimsen to glimmer, Old English glǣm gleam

First Known Use

Verb

14th century, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 2

Noun

circa 1540, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of glimpse was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near glimpse

Cite this Entry

“Glimpse.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/glimpse. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

glimpse

1 of 2 verb
glimpsed; glimpsing
: to take a brief look : see momentarily or incompletely
glimpsed the deer running
glimpser noun

glimpse

2 of 2 noun
: a short hurried view
catch a glimpse of something rushing by

More from Merriam-Webster on glimpse

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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