gleaming

American  

[glee-ming] / ˈgli mɪŋ /

adjective

1. giving off or appearing to give off light or brightness; radiant; shining.

   A cold, gray light filtered down through the bushes and lay on the faintly gleaming sand.

   The newest release is a gleaming composite of epic, unabashedly pretty '70s songwriting and fancy-pants disco hedonism.

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Other Word Forms

• gleamingly adverb
• ungleaming adjective

Etymology

Origin of gleaming

gleam ( def. ) + -ing ² ( def. )

Explanation

Teeth in toothpaste commercials are gleaming. They sparkle when the light hits. When you see this word, think of a bright reflected ray of light, on teeth, on water, or in someone's smiling eyes. A new skyscraper that reflects light might also be described as gleaming. If you are excited to move to a new place, someone might say that your eyes are gleaming with excitement, especially as you view the gleaming wood floors and gleaming freshly-washed windows of your new home. The word has a clean, glittering, sparkly feel to it.

Example Sentences

The block is about to be demolished to make way for a gleaming new residential complex, and the mosaic is to be torn down.

From Barron's • Apr. 24, 2026

Jaafar is lit up with Michael’s gleaming eyes and smile and he can moonwalk.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 22, 2026

It’s easy to picture the fantasy kitchen: matching sets, gleaming gadgets, drawers that close with a soft, expensive hush.

From Salon • Apr. 21, 2026

The listing images include few personal touches inside the home, capturing gleaming white spaces filled with neutral furniture and decor.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 13, 2026

"A thin, gleaming mustache and scheming, greedy eyes," Rani declares.

From "Born Behind Bars" by Padma Venkatraman

Related Words

• bright
• burnished
• glassy
• glazed
• glistening
• lustrous
• polished
• shining
• shiny
• sleek