sparkle
Americanverb (used without object)
-
sparkles,
present (3rd person singular)
-
sparkled,
past participle, past
-
sparkling
present participle
-
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)
-
sparkles,
present (3rd person singular)
-
sparkled,
past participle, past
-
sparkling
present participle
noun
-
sparkles
plural
-
a little spark or fiery particle.
-
a sparkling appearance, luster, or play of light.
the sparkle of a diamond.
- Synonyms:
- glitter
-
brilliance, liveliness, or vivacity.
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
Synonym Usage
See glisten.
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
-
sparklesimple
-
sparklessimple
-
have sparkledperfect
-
has sparkledperfect
-
am sparklingprogressive
-
are sparklingprogressive
-
is sparklingprogressive
-
have been sparklingperfect progressive
-
has been sparklingperfect progressive
Past
-
sparkledsimple
-
had sparkledperfect
-
was sparklingprogressive
-
were sparklingprogressive
-
had been sparklingperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of sparkle
First recorded in 1150–1200; Middle English (noun and verb); see spark 1, -le
Explanation
Fairy dust, stars, Christmas lights, Hanukkah candles, freshly fallen snow, a lake when the sun hits it just right — all of these things sparkle. That means they shine with a bright, glistening, shimmering light. Sparkle can also refer to joy or merriment. When you're having a really good time, your face will sparkle. As a verb, sparkle means to be lively and excited, or to be so brilliant at something that you shine above the rest. It can also describe something bubbly or foamy — like when you add soap to your bath to make the bathwater sparkle. Sparkle can also describe something that produces sparks — like a magic wand.
Vocabulary lists containing sparkle
NAEP Test Words
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"The Forgotten Treasure" and "There Is No Word for Goodbye"
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"Roberto Clemente: Pride of the Pittsburgh Pirates"
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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:
“Babies,” his wife Lauren Miller Rogen’s dramedy, explains why, with sparkle and charm.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 18, 2026
Aside from the Northern Irishman there were few moments of sparkle on show elsewhere among the potential contenders, albeit Justin Rose's slam-dunk hole-in-one on the par-three ninth was an obvious exception.
From BBC ● Aug. 30, 2026
Gloria, vamping and posing and speaking exclusively in italics, is a semi-ridiculous figure who nevertheless gives the otherwise all-male club the sparkle it needs.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 6, 2026
Brilliant blue and white stars sparkle against glowing crimson clouds of hydrogen gas, creating a breathtaking scene that resembles fireworks shining through drifting smoke.
From Science Daily ● Jul. 5, 2026
Fadi was happy to see that there was a sparkle in his mother’s eyes tonight.
From "Shooting Kabul" by N. H. Senzai
If Tucker sparkles in October, no one will remember the regular seasons, and Dodgers fans will remember him fondly forevermore.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 8, 2026
Joanne Kaufman writes that Ryan Effgen’s family comedy sparkles with “genuine humor, smart writing and an ending that bravely goes for hopeful rather than happy.”
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 31, 2026
Chunky platform sandals, fitted baby tees, butterfly clips on perfectly crimped hair, brightly patterned skirts and tons of sparkles.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 10, 2026
A brilliant field of red, white, and blue stars sparkles across a new image from NASA's Hubble Space Telescope, resembling a sparkler glowing against the night sky.
From Science Daily ● Jul. 5, 2026
It was the comparison of sraf to the sparkles on water that suggested it.
From "The Amber Spyglass" by Philip Pullman
The 39-year-old has sparkled at his sixth World Cup - a joint record with Portugal's Cristiano Ronaldo and Mexico's Guillermo Ochoa - scoring eight goals and providing three assists.
From BBC ● Jul. 14, 2026
Tuesday evening’s April quarter earnings sparkled, as sales of $3 billion and earnings 85 cents a share both surpassed analyst estimates.
From Barron's ● Jun. 3, 2026
The MacArthur “genius grant” winner sparkled with sartorial edge as he strutted across the stage in a white tuxedo shirt to discuss his book “Emperor of Gladness.”
From Los Angeles Times ● May 18, 2026
On a recent winter night, frost sparkled in the air like cold confetti and a warm glow spilled from the small windows of a tavern in the one-stoplight village of Sergeantsville, N.J.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Feb. 27, 2026
Her wrinkly, pale skin blended with her short gray hair, and her dark blue eyes sparkled when she talked.
From "Breaking Through" by Francisco Jiménez
It also features sparkling cameos from Penélope Cruz as a sultry cabaret dancer and Glenn Close as a Spanish-speaking American professor.
From Slate ● Oct. 15, 2026
Previously prom-perfect in a slinky dress, glossy wig and sparkling tiara for a Cinespia screening of the 1976 horror classic “Carrie,” Monáe’s dousing was of her own volition.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 15, 2026
“From its elevated vantage point, the Pacific becomes an ever-changing backdrop, glowing at sunrise, sparkling throughout the day, and transforming beneath spectacular sunsets,” the description continues.
From MarketWatch ● Oct. 7, 2026
At Chappell Roan shows, fans often arrive in sparkling Western wear to honor her hit “Pink Pony Club.”
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 18, 2026
Behind her are huge windows, with city lights sparkling in the background.
From "Clairboyance" by Kristiana Kahakauwila
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