noun
glimmer
GLIH-muh
Glimmer (noun) means a faint, unsteady light. Example: “A glimmer of candlelight showed under the door.”
noun
1
A faint, unsteady light.
"A glimmer of candlelight showed under the door."
"They saw a glimmer of hope after the negotiations resumed."
verb
1
To shine with a faint, flickering light.
"The stars glimmered faintly above the city lights."
How to use glimmer
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA weak, flickering light, often used figuratively for a small trace of hope or possibility.
Common pairings
glimmer of hope
faint glimmer
glimmer of light
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Word forms
- Plural
- glimmers
- Third person singular
- glimmers
- Past tense
- glimmered
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
A _____ of candlelight showed under the door.
Etymology
From Middle English glimeren, formed from an old root meaning "to shine" plus a suffix showing repeated action — a doublet of glimpse.
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for glimmer
See all rhymes for glimmer →Frequently asked questions
What does “glimmer” mean?
The word “glimmer” means a faint, unsteady light. In plain terms, a weak, flickering light, often used figuratively for a small trace of hope or possibility.
How do you pronounce “glimmer”?
“Glimmer” is pronounced GLIH-muh (/ˈɡlɪmɚ/ in IPA).
How do you use “glimmer” in a sentence?
Here is “glimmer” used in a sentence: “A glimmer of candlelight showed under the door.”
What part of speech is “glimmer”?
Depending on how it is used, “glimmer” can be a noun and a verb.
Where does the word “glimmer” come from?
The word “glimmer” comes from Middle English. From Middle English glimeren, formed from an old root meaning "to shine" plus a suffix showing repeated action — a doublet of glimpse.
How many meanings does “glimmer” have?
“Glimmer” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a faint, unsteady light.
