verb B1 Intermediate Uncommon

glide

GLYD

Glide (verb) means to move smoothly and effortlessly, without visible effort or friction. Example: “The skater glided across the ice.”

verb

To move smoothly and effortlessly, without visible effort or friction.

"The skater glided across the ice."

"The plane glided down onto the runway after its engines cut out."

noun

An instance of moving smoothly, or a flight made without engine power.

"The pilot managed a long glide to the nearest airfield."

How to use glide

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishTo move in a smooth, effortless way, as if floating or sliding.

Common pairings

glide across glide through the air come in to glide

Word forms

glided past tense, glid past tense, glode past tense, glidden past tense, glides plural, glides singular

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Fill the gap

Can you complete this real example?

The skater _____ across the ice.

Etymology

From Old English glidan, going back to a Proto-Germanic root meaning "to slide" or "to move smoothly."

Origin: Old English

Synonyms

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coast slide sailing soaring gliding semivowel sailplaning

Related words

high coast beach flying flow shift shore slide

Rhymes for glide

ide tide hide ride wide side bide aide abide slide bride guide

See all rhymes for glide →

Frequently asked questions

What does “glide” mean?

The word “glide” means to move smoothly and effortlessly, without visible effort or friction. In plain terms, to move in a smooth, effortless way, as if floating or sliding.

How do you pronounce “glide”?

“Glide” is pronounced GLYD (/ˈɡlaɪd/ in IPA).

How do you use “glide” in a sentence?

Here is “glide” used in a sentence: “The skater glided across the ice.”

What part of speech is “glide”?

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

Where does the word “glide” come from?

The word “glide” comes from Old English. From Old English glidan, going back to a Proto-Germanic root meaning "to slide" or "to move smoothly.".

Is “glide” a common word?

“Glide” is an uncommon word in modern English, usually learned at around the B1 level.

How many meanings does “glide” have?

“Glide” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: to move smoothly and effortlessly, without visible effort or friction.

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