sparkling
Americanadjective
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shining with flashing points or gleams of reflected light, as the ocean or a faceted gemstone.
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(of liquids) effervescent; carbonated; fizzy.
sparkling water.
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brilliant, lively, or vivacious.
sparkling conversation.
Etymology
Origin of sparkling
First recorded in 1350–1400; sparkl(e) ( def. ) + -ing 2 ( def. )
Explanation
Something that's sparkling shines or glints with many little lights. You might say that the starry night sky is sparkling. You can describe someone's eyes as sparkling, if they twinkle with light, or admire the sparkling lights on your friend's Christmas tree. Another way to use the adjective sparkling is to describe a carbonated beverage, like sparkling wine or sparkling cider. Any fizzy, bubbly drink is sparkling. People have used sparkling to describe wine and eyes since the fifteenth century, and it comes from the Old English spearca, "glowing or fiery particle thrown off."
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Sparkling water may play a small role in weight management by slightly increasing blood glucose uptake and metabolism, which is the process the body uses to convert energy.
From Science Daily • Apr. 17, 2026
Sparkling and rebarbative, abrasive and relentlessly performative, it is, in other words, classic Will Self.
From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 20, 2026
Robbie attended a press conference for the movie in Seoul, South Korea, in a hot pink studded Moschino skirt suit, the spitting image of Sparkling Pink Barbie from 1964.
From Los Angeles Times • Jul. 10, 2023
Sparkling and still wine proved popular, with sales rising by 129% and 33% respectively.
From BBC • May 23, 2023
Sparkling ash and black flakes of debris spun through the air around Magdalys as she jumped over burnt logs and ducked through the half-collapsed entranceway after Amaya.
From "Dactyl Hill Squad" by Daniel José Older
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
