glancing

American  

[glan-sing, glahn-] / ˈglæn sɪŋ, ˈglɑn- /

adjective

1. striking obliquely and bouncing off at an angle.

   a glancing blow.

2. brief and indirect.

   glancing references to his dubious past.

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Other Word Forms

• glancingly adverb

Etymology

Origin of glancing

First recorded in 1485–95; glance ¹ + -ing ²

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

Makhmudov spent most of the time glancing at his phone, drawing criticism from heavyweight great Lennox Lewis who was part of the TV broadcast.

From BBC • Apr. 9, 2026

Tohmajarvi "had changed a lot", the 42-year-old said, glancing out the window at a quiet street that used to buzz with transit traffic and tourists.

From Barron's • Feb. 25, 2026

So if, like with Dalot and Sarr, the full boot makes contact with the leg but it comes off quickly that would be considered glancing.

From BBC • Jan. 19, 2026

“I don’t understand,” they say, glancing down at their EBT card.

From Salon • Jan. 3, 2026

Elliot visibly twitched at the word future, glancing around nervously before turning to stare daggers at me again.

From "Glitch" by Laura Martin

Related Words

• cursory
• fleeting
• superficial