noun B2 Upper-Intermediate

gleam

gleem

Gleam (noun) means a brief or faint flash of light. Example: “A gleam of sunlight broke through the clouds.”

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."

Origin: Old English

Rhymes for gleam

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

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Frequently asked questions

What does “gleam” mean?

The word “gleam” means a brief or faint flash of light. In plain terms, a soft, brief shine, or to give off one — often used for a look of excitement in someone's eyes.

How do you pronounce “gleam”?

“Gleam” is pronounced gleem (/ɡlim/ in IPA).

How do you use “gleam” in a sentence?

Here is “gleam” used in a sentence: “A gleam of sunlight broke through the clouds.”

What part of speech is “gleam”?

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

Where does the word “gleam” come from?

The word “gleam” comes from Old English. From Old English glæm, "a shaft of light or radiance," from a Germanic root meaning "brightness" or "splendour.".

How many meanings does “gleam” have?

“Gleam” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a brief or faint flash of light.

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