glancing
Americanadjective
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striking obliquely and bouncing off at an angle.
a glancing blow.
-
brief and indirect.
glancing references to his dubious past.
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of glancing
Explanation
If you describe something as glancing, that means it's quick and angled, like the glancing blow you give a fellow actor with your stunt sword. An onstage sword fight, especially one that's played for comedy, is full of glancing hits. These are aimed to bounce, or glance, off their objects. The oldest use of glancing is "strike obliquely, without full impact," from an Old French word meaning "to make slippery." Another way to use this adjective is to mean "indirect," like the glancing references you make to dogs in every conversation with your parents, hoping they'll get the hint and adopt a puppy.
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.
Arsenal's Kai Havertz equalised with a glancing header early in the second half before Jonathan Tah's header was controversially ruled out for a foul by a team-mate seconds earlier.
From BBC ● Jun. 30, 2026
“You get more done when the pressure’s on,” she says, glancing at one of the dozens of text messages that have popped up on her iPhone.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 18, 2026
He said glancing at the the dinosaur next to him in the dirt helps keep him calm and focused.
From Los Angeles Times ● May 28, 2026
Harry Kane's penalty was cancelled out by Khvicha Kvaratskhelia's clinical finish, before Joao Neves' glancing header and Michael Olise's moment of individual brilliance left the sides level.
From BBC ● Apr. 28, 2026
Elliot jumped at the word letter like it had electrocuted him somehow, glancing left and right as though to make sure we were alone.
From "Glitch" by Laura Martin
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.
