glimmer
Americannoun
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a faint or unsteady light; gleam.
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a dim perception; inkling.
verb (used without object)
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to shine faintly or unsteadily; twinkle, shimmer, or flicker.
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to appear faintly or dimly.
verb
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(of a light, candle, etc) to glow faintly or flickeringly
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to be indicated faintly
hope glimmered in his face
noun
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a glow or twinkle of light
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a faint indication
Related Words
See gleam.
Other Word Forms
- glimmeringly adverb
Etymology
Origin of glimmer
1300–50; Middle English glimeren “to gleam”; cognate with German glimmern; compare Old English gleomu “splendor”
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.
American drivers saw a glimmer of hope for at least a brief reprieve from rising fuel costs when crude-oil prices fell by more than 10% Monday.
From MarketWatch • Mar. 24, 2026
National Australia Bank's Ken Crompton added that oil traders were unmoved by US President Donald Trump's pledge to protect ships through the Strait of Hormuz, which had provided a small glimmer of support Wednesday.
From Barron's • Mar. 5, 2026
Still, he said, people now see a glimmer of hope and feel invigorated.
From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 1, 2026
The melody in the chorus shows a glimmer of hook-writing ability.
From Salon • Feb. 16, 2026
The figure was about the same height as Josie, and for a moment he felt a glimmer of hope.
From "The School for Whatnots" by Margaret Peterson Haddix
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.
