glimpse

[ glimps ]

/ glɪmps /

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noun

a very brief, passing look, sight, or view.

a momentary or slight appearance.

a vague idea; inkling.

Archaic. a gleam, as of light.

verb (used with object), glimpsed, glimps·ing.

to catch or take a glimpse of.

verb (used without object), glimpsed, glimps·ing.

to look briefly; glance (usually followed by at).

Archaic. to come into view; appear faintly.

Nearby words

Origin of glimpse

1350–1400; Middle English glimsen (v.); cognate with Middle High German glimsen to glow; akin to glimmer

SYNONYMS FOR glimpse

5. spot, spy, view, sight, espy.

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR glimpse ON THESAURUS.COM

Related formsglimps·er, nounun·glimpsed, adjective

Can be confusedglance glimpse

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for glimpse

The tumult was such that young Sarah had cause to worry that she might not get even a glimpse of Will and Kate.
Synagogue Slay: When Cops Have to Kill|Michael Daly|December 10, 2014|DAILY BEAST
On the back cover of the first paperback edition we get a glimpse of the media buzz.
Living Black & Gay in the ’50s|Alain Mabanckou|December 3, 2014|DAILY BEAST
When he gets his hands on a Canon copier, the reader gets a glimpse into the unique fashion in which his mind works.
The Many Lives of Artist David Hockney|William O’Connor|November 23, 2014|DAILY BEAST
It is a glimpse at life exactly as it was at 3:32 am on April 6, 2009 when the earthquake stopped time.
Madonna, Carla Bruni & Obama Abandoned Pledges To Rebuild L'Aquila After The Quake|Barbie Latza Nadeau|November 18, 2014|DAILY BEAST

That tells us not just the story of other star systems, but offers a glimpse into our own deep history, the one we can never see.
The Most Stunning View Ever of Planets Being Born|Matthew R. Francis|November 9, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The boys, and those in the room, caught a glimpse of the old miner as he hurried past the window after the gambler.
Two Boy Gold Miners|Frank V. Webster
But even in that glimpse I saw the change which years had brought.
Aladdin & Co.|Herbert Quick
One night Amy caught a glimpse of us at some public place, I forget which.
The Memoirs of Harriette Wilson, Volumes One and Two|Harriette Wilson
She passed outside Madagascar and Mauritius without a glimpse of the land.
The Nigger Of The "Narcissus"|Joseph Conrad
In doing so he caught a glimpse of his face in the small mirror which hung at one side, and he burst out laughing.
The Argosy|Various

British Dictionary definitions for glimpse

glimpse

/ (ɡlɪmps) /

noun

a brief or incomplete viewto catch a glimpse of the sea

a vague indicationhe had a glimpse of what the lecturer meant

archaic a glimmer of light

verb

(tr) to catch sight of briefly or momentarily

(intr usually foll by at) mainly US to look (at) briefly or cursorily; glance (at)

(intr) archaic to shine faintly; glimmer

Derived Formsglimpser, noun

Word Origin for glimpse

C14: of Germanic origin; compare Middle High German glimsen to glimmer

usage

Glimpse is sometimes wrongly used where glance is meant: he gave a quick glance (not glimpse) at his watch

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for glimpse

glimpse

c.1400, "to glisten, be dazzling," probably from Old English *glimsian "shine faintly," from Proto-Germanic *glim- (see gleam). If so, the intrusive -p- would be there to ease pronunciation. Sense of "catch a quick view" first recorded mid-15c. Related: Glimpsed. The noun is recorded from mid-16c.; earlier in verbal noun glimpsing (mid-14c.).

glimpse

noun

verb (used with object), glimpsed, glimps·ing.

verb (used without object), glimpsed, glimps·ing.

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Origin of glimpse

Examples from the Web for glimpse

glimpse

noun

verb

Word Origin for glimpse

usage

glimpse