glimmer

[glim-er]

noun

1. a faint or unsteady light; gleam.

2. a dim perception; inkling.

verb (used without object)

1. to shine faintly or unsteadily; twinkle, shimmer, or flicker.

2. to appear faintly or dimly.

glimmer

/ ˈɡlɪmə /

verb

1. (of a light, candle, etc) to glow faintly or flickeringly

2. to be indicated faintly

   hope glimmered in his face

noun

1. a glow or twinkle of light

2. a faint indication

Other Word Forms

• glimmeringly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of glimmer¹

1300–50; Middle English glimeren “to gleam”; cognate with German glimmern; compare Old English gleomu “splendor”

Word History and Origins

Origin of glimmer¹

C14: compare Middle High German glimmern, Swedish glimra, Danish glimre

Synonym Study

See gleam.

Example Sentences

Tuesday’s print provides a glimmer of hope for investors, even if the stock is still on track for its worst year since 2016.

Read more on Barron's

The morning frost glistens, and—in a clever device—the low sun glimmers through a row of unseen, leafless trees behind the artist, casting crisscrossing, rhythmic shadows on the furrows.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

There had been only glimmers from Argentina until then.

Read more on BBC

There was a brief glimmer of hope leading into this week that Jordan, who underwent tightrope surgery on his ankle five weeks ago, might be able to return for USC’s trip to Eugene.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Penelope felt a glimmer of her old optimism coming back.

Read more on Literature

Related Words

• flicker 
• gleam 
• glint 
• glow 
• hint 
• inkling 
• ray 
• twinkle