gleam
Americannoun
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a flash or beam of light.
the gleam of a lantern in the dark.
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a dim or subdued light.
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a brief or slight manifestation or occurrence; trace.
a gleam of hope.
verb (used without object)
noun
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a small beam or glow of light, esp reflected light
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a brief or dim indication
a gleam of hope
verb
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to send forth or reflect a beam of light
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to appear, esp briefly
intelligence gleamed in his eyes
Usage
What does gleam mean?
A gleam is a flash or flicker of light, as in As Val scrolled through their phone in the dark, the screen projected a gleam of light on their face.
A gleam is also a dim light, such as you might get from a flashlight with a dying battery.
To gleam means to send out a gleam, as in The candle gleamed in the darkness.
To gleam also means to appear quickly and clearly, as a flash of light would.
Example: I love the way this dress gleams in the sun.
Synonym Usage
Gleam, glimmer, beam, ray are terms for a stream of light. Gleam denotes a not very brilliant, intermittent or nondirectional stream of light. Glimmer indicates a nondirectional light that is feeble and unsteady: a faint glimmer of moonlight. Beam usually means a directional, and therefore smaller, stream: the beam from a searchlight. Ray usually implies a still smaller amount of light than a beam, a single line of light: a ray through a pinprick in a window shade.
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
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outgleamverb (used with object)
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gleamingadjective
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gleamlessadjective
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gleamyadjective
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gleaminglyadverb
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
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gleamsimple
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gleamssimple
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have gleamedperfect
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has gleamedperfect
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am gleamingprogressive
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are gleamingprogressive
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is gleamingprogressive
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have been gleamingperfect progressive
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has been gleamingperfect progressive
Past
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gleamedsimple
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had gleamedperfect
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was gleamingprogressive
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were gleamingprogressive
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had been gleamingperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of gleam
First recorded before 1000; (noun) Middle English glem(e), Old English glǣm; cognate with Old High German gleimo “glowworm”; akin to Old Saxon glīmo “brightness”; (verb) Middle English, derivative of the noun. See glimmer, glimpse
Explanation
A gleam is a bright flash of light. If you were lost on a dark, stormy night, you'd be hugely relieved to see the gleam of a roadside diner's sign up ahead. Use the verb gleam when something is shining as if it were wet or glinting with light. Your new toothpaste might make your teeth so white that they gleam. You can also describe an emotion that appears briefly as a gleam, like a gleam of hope. And as you hatch a plan to toilet-paper the neighbor's yard, mischief might gleam in your eyes.
Vocabulary lists containing gleam
List 9
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Unit 1: Telling Details
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Beowulf vocabulary
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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:
Since then, every major chapter of Trump’s story has been suffused with the gleam of his favorite metal.
From Slate ● Jun. 11, 2026
His art isn’t even subtly political; it is futuristic, with a kind of sci-fi gleam.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Apr. 27, 2026
There's almost no kissing, and the disco is a million miles from the hedonistic gleam of Studio 54.
From BBC ● Mar. 4, 2026
Dollops of candied citrus gleam like jewels, Turbinado sugar crowns the loaf with a satisfyingly crackly crust, and the coffee whispers beneath it all, cutting through sweetness and coaxing out the pumpkin’s earthy depth.
From Salon ● Dec. 18, 2025
A gleam of excitement danced in Razi’s eyes.
From "The Boy Who Met a Whale" by Nizrana Farook
A silver court gown like the one Marie Antoinette wore at her wedding gleams in the central case.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jan. 8, 2026
When he opens it, the violin gleams with the sheen of a freshly split chestnut.
From Los Angeles Times ● Nov. 24, 2025
Cassandra Peterson understands the power of a movie night — or more specifically, the kind of movie night that wobbles between horror and hilarity, where the fake blood maybe gleams brighter than the budget.
From Salon ● Oct. 27, 2025
However, he praised Smith for his performance and noted he was a "natural fit for the role of Dr Stockmann" and "gleams with authority" throughout.
From BBC ● Feb. 21, 2024
The crown gleams in his gnarled hands, glowing as if sunlight emanated from the metal itself.
From "The Cruel Prince" by Holly Black
New floorboards, cabinets, fixtures, lights and walls gleamed.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 17, 2023
Skies gleamed pink, green and yellow as the aurora borealis illuminated parts of northern England.
From BBC ● Sep. 13, 2023
"Is that…" her eyes gleamed, jaw dropping to the floor, as she placed both of her tiny hands over her heart.
From Salon ● Aug. 13, 2023
From another archive shelf, a bottle for a different perfume gleamed with allure.
From Seattle Times ● Jun. 9, 2023
There was a cluster of men, all smoking pipes, gathered around an exhibit in a glass case that gleamed in the dim light and lit their faces ghoulishly from below.
From "The Secret History" by Donna Tartt
Speaking to the BBC from a government compound with a gleaming golden minaret, Mehdi Nobani, said neither Israel nor the US had achieved their military objectives, including regime change.
From BBC ● Jul. 2, 2026
But not long after the job was complete, the paint began to visibly peel, and the gleaming waters promptly refilled with green pond scum.
From Barron's ● Jun. 21, 2026
Another massive piece, “Kumbi Saleh 3020 CE,” resurrects the medieval city of Kumbi Saleh, the capital of the ancient Ghanaian empire, as a gleaming, futuristic hub.
From Salon ● Apr. 26, 2026
Jaafar is lit up with Michael’s gleaming eyes and smile and he can moonwalk.
From Los Angeles Times ● Apr. 22, 2026
A few gleaming motorcars pass with a honk.
From "The Bletchley Riddle" by Ruta Sepetys and Steve Sheinkin
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.
