glean
Americanverb (used with object)
-
to gather slowly and laboriously, bit by bit.
-
to gather small amounts of (grain or the like) left behind after a harvest, nowadays often for charitable use.
-
to clear (a field, orchard, etc.) of leftover produce in this way.
Millet’s painting The Gleaners depicts three peasant women stooping low as they glean a field of wheat.
-
to learn, discover, or find out, usually little by little or slowly.
verb (used without object)
-
to collect or gather anything little by little or slowly.
-
to gather what is left by reapers.
verb
-
to gather (something) slowly and carefully in small pieces
to glean information from the newspapers
-
to gather (the useful remnants of a crop) from the field after harvesting
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of glean
First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English glenen, from Old French glener, from Late Latin glennāre, ultimately from Celtic
Explanation
Glean means to gather bit by bit, either literally or figuratively. You might glean leftover grain from a recently harvested field or glean information about new vocabulary words by hearing them used in context. When you glean information, you sort through ideas and take what you need. Seeing a word in context lets you glean information about how it's used, for example. If you want to find treasures at a thrift shop, you’ll have to glean the good stuff out of the piles of junk. To glean a field means to walk along and see what’s left on the ground. It takes patience to glean.
Vocabulary lists containing glean
List 8
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!
100 SAT Words Beginning with "G"
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!
Scythe
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.
According to experts, here are some takeaways L.A. can glean from its Bay Area neighbor.
From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 29, 2026
I would say the American content is more sophisticated and plentiful, but one can glean universal themes arising from every corner of the world.
From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 21, 2026
Economists rely on the three-month average to glean recent hiring trends.
From MarketWatch • Apr. 3, 2026
The emails caused concern for some users on social media, who feared it was a scam or phishing attempt designed to glean more of their details.
From BBC • Jan. 12, 2026
Then he added, “Unless you’ve decided to glean me, too.”
From "Scythe" by Neal Shusterman
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.
