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verb C2 Proficient

shimmer

SHIHM-uh

Shimmer (verb) means to shine with a soft, faint, flickering light. Example: “The lake shimmered under the afternoon sun.”

verb
1
To shine with a soft, faint, flickering light.
"The lake shimmered under the afternoon sun."
"Her dress shimmered as she moved across the dance floor."
noun
1
A faint, wavering gleam of light.
"There was a shimmer of heat rising from the road."

How to use shimmer

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishA soft, unsteady sparkle or gleam of light, or the act of producing one.

Common pairings
a shimmer of light shimmer in the sun

Word forms

shimmered past tense, shimmers plural, shimmers plural, shimmers singular

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Fill the gap

Can you complete this real example?

The lake _____ under the afternoon sun.

Etymology

From Old English sċimerian, related to German schimmern — both describing a faint, trembling gleam of light.

Origin: Old English

Related words

Rhymes for shimmer

See all rhymes for shimmer →

Frequently asked questions

What does “shimmer” mean?

The word “shimmer” means to shine with a soft, faint, flickering light. In plain terms, a soft, unsteady sparkle or gleam of light, or the act of producing one.

How do you pronounce “shimmer”?

“Shimmer” is pronounced SHIHM-uh (/ˈʃɪm.ɚ/ in IPA).

How do you use “shimmer” in a sentence?

Here is “shimmer” used in a sentence: “The lake shimmered under the afternoon sun.”

What part of speech is “shimmer”?

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

Where does the word “shimmer” come from?

The word “shimmer” comes from Old English. From Old English sċimerian, related to German schimmern — both describing a faint, trembling gleam of light.

How many meanings does “shimmer” have?

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

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