glitter
Americanverb (used without object)
-
glitters,
present (3rd person singular)
-
glittered,
past participle, past
-
glittering
present participle
-
to reflect light with a brilliant, sparkling luster; sparkle with reflected light.
-
to make a brilliant show.
noun
-
glitters
plural
-
a sparkling reflected light or luster.
- Synonyms:
- sparkle
-
showy splendor.
-
small glittering ornaments.
verb
-
(of a hard, wet, or polished surface) to reflect light in bright flashes
-
(of light) to be reflected in bright flashes
-
(usually foll by with) to be decorated or enhanced by the glamour (of)
the show glitters with famous actors
noun
-
sparkle or brilliance
-
show and glamour
-
tiny pieces of shiny decorative material used for ornamentation, as on the skin
-
Also called: silver thaw. ice formed from freezing rain
Synonym Usage
See flash.
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
-
glittersimple
-
glitterssimple
-
have glitteredperfect
-
has glitteredperfect
-
am glitteringprogressive
-
are glitteringprogressive
-
is glitteringprogressive
-
have been glitteringperfect progressive
-
has been glitteringperfect progressive
Past
-
glitteredsimple
-
had glitteredperfect
-
was glitteringprogressive
-
were glitteringprogressive
-
had been glitteringperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of glitter
First recorded in 1300–50; Middle English, from Old Norse glitra; compare Old English glitenian, German gleissen “to shine, glitter”
Explanation
A glitter is a sparkle or flash of light. To glitter is to gleam or shine, as if glistening with moisture. Glitter isn’t just shiny stuff you use in craft projects. When used as a noun, glitter can refer to any kind of gleam, glint, spark, or flash of light, like the flicker of a firefly at night. This word can also be used as a verb. An ornate golden goblet glitters brightly — as does anything coated in a thick layer of glitter.
Vocabulary lists containing glitter
"The Earth Under Sky Bear's Feet"
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Towers Falling
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Jess and Layla's Astronomical Assignment
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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.
See Examples For:
I still find glitter ground into our kitchen tiles from the Halloween when he made his daughter a purple witch costume.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 6, 2026
How to get the look: Fairycore-inspired make-up is in, which means sparkles, face gems and glitter.
From BBC ● Jul. 30, 2026
There are groups of friends, families and even dogs - it's like a big summer fête, with rainbows and glitter.
From BBC ● Jun. 20, 2026
Amazon is now awash with squishy products: There is a cheese squishy, glitter dumpling squishies and even a squishy that resembles a stick of butter.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Apr. 28, 2026
It was full of the glitter and twinkle of jewelry, corals and metals and precious stones.
From "Half of a Yellow Sun" by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
Called both postmedieval and early modern, the Renaissance glitters as a bridge period that helped bring about the modern age.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Feb. 6, 2026
All that glitters isn’t gold, but it’s easy to see why investors will continue to take a shine to it—and other metals—even after their historic run.
From Barron's ● Jan. 30, 2026
Adams acknowledged that while all that glitters is not gold, the Rams’ foundation under McVay and their personnel and mindset give them an opportunity to be a championship-caliber team.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 28, 2025
The glass panels gleam in the sun, like an outsize version of the prismatic bluish-purple gem that glitters in the light.
From BBC ● Oct. 23, 2024
His blue robe glitters in the sun like a king’s.
From "I'll Give You the Sun" by Jandy Nelson
They glittered in gold platform heels, black and tan powersuits, and fur-lined wool dresses for the winter chill lingering in Washington.
From Salon ● Mar. 19, 2026
They also didn’t reinvest farm income or Exxon’s dividends, and they picked another specific date when gold had glittered.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Feb. 27, 2026
But all that glittered was not gold, as a new podcast series reveals, and questions remain about the mysterious death of the company's chief geologist.
From BBC ● May 18, 2024
Ung’s crystal-embellished pants glittered as she moved across the makeshift dance floor; they were the same pants she’d worn the night of the shooting.
From Los Angeles Times ● Dec. 17, 2023
Other stars glittered in the night sky, now.
From "Stardust" by Neil Gaiman
Adell has driven in 28 runs in 38 games with Cleveland and joins glittering rookie Chase DeLauter and steady veteran Steven Kwan in a productive outfield.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 16, 2026
MALLORCA, Spain—This Mediterranean island is a tourist paradise, with glittering turquoise seas, hidden coves and endless white-sand beaches that have been luring Europeans for generations.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 12, 2026
The hills, glittering with celebrity, seemed to symbolize a culture and people that existed largely on the surface.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 11, 2026
Makhachev, who is a former lightweight world champion, extended his glittering record to 29 wins and one defeat, while 28-year-old Machado Garry suffered the second loss of his 19-fight career.
From BBC ● Aug. 16, 2026
It was only a cane rat watching the fire with glittering black eyes.
From "A Girl Named Disaster" by Nancy Farmer
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.
