sparkle

[ spahr-kuhl ]

/ ˈspɑr kəl /

Save This Word!

See synonyms for: sparkle / sparkles / sparkling on Thesaurus.com

verb (used without object), spar·kled, spar·kling.

to issue in or as if in little sparks, as fire or light: The candlelight sparkled in the crystal.

to emit little sparks, as burning matter: The flames leaped and sparkled.

to shine or glisten with little gleams of light, as a brilliant gem; glitter; coruscate.

to effervesce, as wine.

to be brilliant, lively, or vivacious.

verb (used with object), spar·kled, spar·kling.

to cause to sparkle: moonlight sparkling the water; pleasure sparkling her eyes.

noun

a little spark or fiery particle.

a sparkling appearance, luster, or play of light:the sparkle of a diamond.

brilliance, liveliness, or vivacity.

OTHER WORDS FOR sparkle

8 glitter.

See synonyms for sparkle on Thesaurus.com

QUIZ

CAN YOU ANSWER THESE COMMON GRAMMAR DEBATES?

There are grammar debates that never die; and the ones highlighted in the questions in this quiz are sure to rile everyone up once again. Do you know how to answer the questions that cause some of the greatest grammar debates?

Question 1 of 7

Which sentence is correct?

His boss, whom he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

His boss, who he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

Origin of sparkle

1150–1200; Middle English (noun and verb); see spark¹, -le

synonym study for sparkle

3. See glisten.

OTHER WORDS FROM sparkle

non·spar·kling, adjectiveoutsparkle, verb (used with object), out·spar·kled, out·spar·kling.un·spark·ling, adjective

Words nearby sparkle

spark generator, sparkie, sparking plug, sparking voltage, spark-killer, sparkle, sparkler, sparklet, sparkling, sparkling water, sparkling wine

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use sparkle in a sentence

This was just a dream, a sparkle in our eyes 10 years ago, that we would be able to sequence this many genomes.
New Fish Data Reveal How Evolutionary Bursts Create Species|Elena Renken|December 1, 2020|Quanta Magazine
Drawn by the sparkle and pizzazz, West Virginians made the Hollywood a huge success.
Valuation: Casino stocks got clobbered by COVID-19. This one is now an attractive bet|matthewheimer|October 18, 2020|Fortune
Despite the sparkle of the tech economy, there is no guarantee that the new jobs that might arrive will match that standard.
After the boom: Canada’s oil capital faces an uncertain future|kdunn6|September 21, 2020|Fortune
The fun part and being with their peers is where we’re seeing the sparkle come back in their eyes.
The Learning Curve: One School District Stayed Open – and Didn’t Have Problems|Will Huntsberry|August 13, 2020|Voice of San Diego

The crown jewel of India’s banking system is losing its sparkle.
India’s once squeaky-clean HDFC Bank is now facing “strategic failure”|Prathamesh Mulye|August 4, 2020|Quartz
Sitting in that plastic pitcher, she said, the water seemed to sparkle.
Are Water Filters B.S.?|Michael Schulson|August 19, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Travelers are in danger of losing the “sparkle in their eyes” if they know too much in advance.
Do Michelin Stars Still Matter?|Brandon Presser|May 8, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Sascha Hertli, chief executive of Rococo Dessous, discovered the missing sparkle while a consultant in oil-rich Qatar.
Lingerie for the 1 Percent|CNBC|August 6, 2013|DAILY BEAST
I got back in shape when I moved to Los Angeles, and with that went most of my Roger Sterling sparkle.
The Return of the Power Paunch|Sean Macaulay|May 1, 2013|DAILY BEAST
But he took the “sparkle” just before driving Shrimpton down a narrow winding mountain road.
Speed Read: 11 Juiciest Bits From Philip Norman’s Biography of Mick Jagger|The Daily Beast|October 1, 2012|DAILY BEAST
It warmed the heart of Marcelle, too, and made her cheeks glow and her eyes sparkle—and added a rosier color to her lips.
The Real Latin Quarter|F. Berkeley Smith
It certainly does not sparkle now, but it must have come of a witty stock, and have boasted a mirth-provoking pedigree.
A Cursory History of Swearing|Julian Sharman
The sunshine was hot, the snow was brilliantly white, and seemed to sparkle as if covered with diamonds.
Rudy and Babette|Hans Christian Andersen
Through the broad leaves of the trees showed the night sky, pale with moonlight and the sparkle of the stars.
The Rake's Progress|Marjorie Bowen
But here the sparkle in the wine had died, leaving the cup that had brimmed flat and dull and only half full after all.
The Relief of Mafeking|Filson Young

British Dictionary definitions for sparkle

sparkle

/ (ˈspɑːkəl) /

verb

to issue or reflect or cause to issue or reflect bright points of light

(intr) (of wine, mineral water, etc) to effervesce

(intr) to be vivacious or witty

noun

a point of light, spark, or gleam

vivacity or wit

Word Origin for sparkle

C12 sparklen, frequentative of sparken to spark 1

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

sparkle

OTHER WORDS FOR sparkle

Origin of sparkle

synonym study for sparkle

OTHER WORDS FROM sparkle

Words nearby sparkle

Words related to sparkle

How to use sparkle in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for sparkle

Word Origin for sparkle