twinkling

American  

[twing-kling] / ˈtwɪŋ klɪŋ /

noun

1. an act of shining with intermittent gleams of light.

2. the time required for a wink; an instant.

3. Archaic. winking; a wink.

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twinkling British  

/ ˈtwɪŋklɪŋ, twɪŋk /

noun

1. Also called: twinkling of an eye.  a very short time; instant; moment

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twinkling Idioms  

1. see in the twinkling of an eye.

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Other Word Forms

• untwinkling adjective

Etymology

Origin of twinkling

Middle English word dating back to 1250–1300; twinkle, -ing ¹

Example Sentences

The store’s front facade was wrapped in a giant plaid scarf made of 126,000 twinkling Christmas lights.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 27, 2026

The audience rehashed its hunches, they circled potential suspects, they stared at a static image of a horrific crime scene, awash in twinkling moonlight.

From Slate • Feb. 23, 2026

He used the giant telescope to capture the twinkling of Sirius, the brightest star in the night sky.

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 17, 2026

After a romantic ride through chic neighbourhoods, Castel got down on one knee as a violinist played with the twinkling Eiffel Tower in the background.

From Barron's • Feb. 12, 2026

The twinkling lights glittered against the fresh white snow, and Seven took in a deep breath of the crisp, cold night, trying to absorb every feeling, every smell.

From "Witchlings" by Claribel A. Ortega