twinkle
Twinkle (verb) means to shine with a flickering, sparkling light. Example: “The stars twinkled brightly over the desert.”
How to use twinkle
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishTo sparkle with flickering light, or a look of amusement in someone's eyes.
Word forms
twinkled past tense, twinkles plural, twinkles singular
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The stars _____ brightly over the desert.
Etymology
From Old English twinclian ("to twinkle"), built from an older word for winking or blinking plus a suffix suggesting repeated small movements.
Related words
Rhymes for twinkle
See all rhymes for twinkle →Frequently asked questions
What does “twinkle” mean?
The word “twinkle” means to shine with a flickering, sparkling light. In plain terms, to sparkle with flickering light, or a look of amusement in someone's eyes.
How do you pronounce “twinkle”?
“Twinkle” is pronounced TWIHNG-kuhl (/ˈtwɪŋ.kəl/ in IPA).
How do you use “twinkle” in a sentence?
Here is “twinkle” used in a sentence: “The stars twinkled brightly over the desert.”
What part of speech is “twinkle”?
Depending on how it is used, “twinkle” can be a verb and a noun.
Where does the word “twinkle” come from?
The word “twinkle” comes from Old English. From Old English twinclian ("to twinkle"), built from an older word for winking or blinking plus a suffix suggesting repeated small movements.
Is “twinkle” a common word?
“Twinkle” is an uncommon word in modern English, usually learned at around the B2 level.
How many meanings does “twinkle” have?
“Twinkle” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: to shine with a flickering, sparkling light.