glint
Americannoun
-
glints
plural
verb (used without object)
-
glints,
present (3rd person singular)
-
glinted,
past participle, past
-
glinting
present participle
-
to shine with a glint.
-
to move suddenly; dart.
verb (used with object)
-
glints,
present (3rd person singular)
-
glinted,
past participle, past
-
glinting
present participle
verb
noun
-
a bright gleam or flash
-
brightness or gloss
-
a brief indication
Synonym Usage
See flash.
Other Word Forms
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
-
glintsimple
-
glintssimple
-
have glintedperfect
-
has glintedperfect
-
am glintingprogressive
-
are glintingprogressive
-
is glintingprogressive
-
have been glintingperfect progressive
-
has been glintingperfect progressive
Past
-
glintedsimple
-
had glintedperfect
-
was glintingprogressive
-
were glintingprogressive
-
had been glintingperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of glint
First recorded in 1400–50; late Middle English glint, variant of obsolete glent; compare Danish glente, Swedish dialect glänta “to glimpse, brighten”
Explanation
A glint is a brief flash or flicker of light. You might enjoy gazing at the glint of light on the water as you lie on the beach in the summer time. You can use the word glint as a noun or a verb: your brother's braces might glint in the afternoon sun, and freshly fallen snow sometimes glints under streetlamps at night. Glint is a Scottish word, first coined in the late 1700s, that comes from the Middle English glenten, "gleam, flash, or glisten." Its ultimate root is Scandinavian, possibly from the same root as the word glass.
Vocabulary lists containing glint
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
Prisoner B-3087
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
A Long Way from Chicago
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
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.
See Examples For:
The sword of Damocles didn’t descend, but its glint lit every meeting.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 4, 2026
In his work exist iconic signs of beloved local establishments — like the Playpen — the blinding glint reflecting off downtown’s skyline, telephone poles regarded as totems.
From Los Angeles Times ● Apr. 17, 2026
If it doesn’t glint in the light, I’m not interested.
From Salon ● Mar. 5, 2026
Jacks, though, spoke with a glint in his eye – the look of a side starting to believe in themselves again - and dismissed concerns over the lack of straightforward wins.
From BBC ● Feb. 27, 2026
“It is a likeness of Cihuacóatl, La Serpiente,” La Llorona explained, watching it glint in the morning sun.
From "Summer of the Mariposas" by Guadalupe García McCall
When his camera isn’t woozily circling like a merry-go-round, his edginess glints.
From Los Angeles Times ● Apr. 3, 2026
As she walked, she examined the crowds and remarked when glints of interest caught her eye.
From New York Times ● Jun. 4, 2024
Across our own solar system, scientists can detect the presence of liquid oceans by observing "glints" -- flashes of sunlight that reflect off liquid surfaces.
From Science Daily ● Dec. 28, 2023
But glints of light and hope such as this were rare.
From BBC ● Aug. 23, 2023
Ice glints on the sides of the pyre.
From "Grendel" by John Gardner
Diver Mags Martin said: "Because we had torches, it glinted in the torchlight."
From BBC ● Jul. 31, 2025
White afternoon light glinted off the stout silver handle.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 21, 2024
On a recent Friday, the ruffled surface of Hood Canal glinted in the sun, while a favorable shoreward breeze kept the ambient temperature exactly perfect.
From Seattle Times ● Aug. 10, 2023
Her eyes glinted wickedly, and she paused dramatically.
From New York Times ● Mar. 26, 2023
The scales glinted in the morning sun as she reeled it in.
From "Caterpillar Summer" by Gillian McDunn
The small canvas shows a young woman set on a dark background, her head turned towards the viewer and a pearl earring glinting from beneath her blue and cream turban.
From Barron's ● Jan. 8, 2026
"It's like many, many thousands of rotating, glinting ruffled potato chips."
From Salon ● Apr. 4, 2025
You still can’t actually see things like power lines — a huge danger — but you can see the light glinting off the metal towers holding them up.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jan. 15, 2025
New John Deere tractors made their way last week through the sprawling port of Brunswick, Ga., their distinctive green paint glinting in the sunshine.
From New York Times ● Apr. 17, 2024
Bit by bit scores of others emerged, their shiny black bodies, flailing limbs, and beady eyes glinting in the early-morning sun.
From "The Boy Who Met a Whale" by Nizrana Farook
Random Word
Spin the wheel and learn a new word!
Get a wordDefinitions 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.
