twinkle

10 synonyms for twinkle, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.

Verb — To shine with a flickering, sparkling light.

Synonyms

Everyday swaps

Common words most readers know — safe in any writing.

light flash

Less common

Still standard English, but they carry more weight.

spark blink sparkling wink sparkle

Rare, literary or technical

Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.

winkle scintillate scintillation

Synonyms by Meaning

1. verb

To shine with a flickering, sparkling light.

“The stars twinkled brightly over the desert.”

light flash spark blink sparkling wink sparkle winkle scintillate scintillation

2. noun

A flicker or sparkle of light, or of delight in someone's eyes.

“There was a twinkle in his eye as he told the joke.”

sparkle scintillation sparkling light spark

How to use twinkle

The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.

twinkle in his eye stars twinkle twinkling lights

Etymology

From Old English twinclian ("to twinkle"), built from an older word for winking or blinking plus a suffix suggesting repeated small movements.

Full origin of twinkle →

Frequently asked questions

What does “twinkle” mean?

The word “twinkle” means to shine with a flickering, sparkling light. In plain terms, to sparkle with flickering light, or a look of amusement in someone's eyes.

How do you pronounce “twinkle”?

“Twinkle” is pronounced TWIHNG-kuhl (/ˈtwɪŋ.kəl/ in IPA).

How do you use “twinkle” in a sentence?

Here is “twinkle” used in a sentence: “The stars twinkled brightly over the desert.”

What part of speech is “twinkle”?

Depending on how it is used, “twinkle” can be a verb and a noun.

Where does the word “twinkle” come from?

The word “twinkle” comes from Old English. From Old English twinclian ("to twinkle"), built from an older word for winking or blinking plus a suffix suggesting repeated small movements.

Is “twinkle” a common word?

“Twinkle” is an uncommon word in modern English, usually learned at around the B2 level.

How many meanings does “twinkle” have?

“Twinkle” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: to shine with a flickering, sparkling light.

People also searched

light flash spark blink sparkling wink sparkle scintillation winkle scintillate

Nearby words

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