- present participle of glance.
glancing
Americanadjective
-
striking obliquely and bouncing off at an angle.
a glancing blow.
-
brief and indirect.
glancing references to his dubious past.
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of glancing
Explanation
If you describe something as glancing, that means it's quick and angled, like the glancing blow you give a fellow actor with your stunt sword. An onstage sword fight, especially one that's played for comedy, is full of glancing hits. These are aimed to bounce, or glance, off their objects. The oldest use of glancing is "strike obliquely, without full impact," from an Old French word meaning "to make slippery." Another way to use this adjective is to mean "indirect," like the glancing references you make to dogs in every conversation with your parents, hoping they'll get the hint and adopt a puppy.
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.
He said glancing at the the dinosaur next to him in the dirt helps keep him calm and focused.
From Los Angeles Times • May 28, 2026
After an initial, glancing chase by a group of indigenous men bent on seizing the whalemen’s clothing and weapons, the survivors landed on the Palauan island of Babeldaob.
From The Wall Street Journal • May 20, 2026
“We have each other’s phone numbers,” said Nadella, glancing at the jury.
From The Wall Street Journal • May 11, 2026
However, the Met Office Space Weather Prediction Centre suggests there is a low chance of a "glancing blow" of energy on Tuesday night where the aurora could reappear in northern Scotland.
From BBC • Mar. 24, 2026
"I solemnly swear," Sam whispered, glancing around to be certain no one could hear.
From "All About Sam" by Lois Lowry
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.
