glimpse
Americannoun
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a very brief, passing look, sight, or view.
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a momentary or slight appearance.
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a vague idea; inkling.
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Archaic. a gleam, as of light.
verb (used with object)
verb (used without object)
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to look briefly; glance (usually followed byat ).
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Archaic. to come into view; appear faintly.
noun
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a brief or incomplete view
to catch a glimpse of the sea
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a vague indication
he had a glimpse of what the lecturer meant
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archaic a glimmer of light
verb
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(tr) to catch sight of briefly or momentarily
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to look (at) briefly or cursorily; glance (at)
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archaic (intr) to shine faintly; glimmer
Usage
Glimpse is sometimes wrongly used where glance is meant: he gave a quick glance (not glimpse ) at his watch
Other Word Forms
- glimpser noun
- unglimpsed adjective
Etymology
Origin of glimpse
First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English glimsen (verb); cognate with Middle High German glimsen “to glow”; akin to glimmer
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.
Like peeking at the guts of the iPhone, it was the first glimpse of something before anyone knew what it could be.
From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 3, 2026
He told BBC Radio CWR it offered a "glimpse" into his life, which he said had "always been open" since he started making music.
From BBC • Apr. 3, 2026
Because its light has traveled for more than 13 billion years, it provides a glimpse into the universe when it was less than a billion years old.
From Science Daily • Mar. 30, 2026
These facilities may, people like Scott hope, offer a glimpse at the future of American health care.
From Slate • Mar. 30, 2026
As he did, he caught a glimpse of someone standing just behind the trees.
From "Half Upon a Time" by James Riley
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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.