noun

gleam

gleem

noun

A brief or faint flash of light.

"A gleam of sunlight broke through the clouds."

"There was a gleam in her eye as she opened the gift."

verb

To shine faintly or briefly.

"The polished silver gleamed under the chandelier."

How to Use Gleam

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishA soft, brief shine, or to give off one — often used for a look of excitement in someone's eyes.

Common pairings

a gleam of hope a gleam in her eye gleam in the sunlight

Word Forms

gleamed past tense, gleamed past tense, gleams plural, gleam plural, gleamed plural, gleams singular, gleam singular, gleamed singular, gleamest singular, gleamedst singular, gleameth singular, gleams singular

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Can you complete this real example?

A _____ of sunlight broke through the clouds.

Etymology

From Old English glæm, "a shaft of light or radiance," from a Germanic root meaning "brightness" or "splendour."

Rhymes for gleam

seam team ream beam cream dream steam bream stream scream sunbeam daydream

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