✨📕 The NEWThe NEW Collegiate Dictionary, 12th Edition Over 5,000 words added — Buy Now! Collegiate DictionaryBuy Now!

glimpse

1 of 2

verb

glimpsed; glimpsing

transitive verb

: to get a brief look at
glimpsed him as he sped by in his car

intransitive verb

1
: to look briefly
glimpsed at the letter and then threw it aside
2
archaic : glimmer
glimpser noun

glimpse

2 of 2

noun

1
: a fleeting view or look
caught only a glimpse of the mugger
2
archaic : glimmer

Examples of glimpse in a Sentence

Verb We glimpsed him through the window as his car sped past. just glimpsed at the photo then turned his attention elsewhere Noun We caught a glimpse of him through the window as his car sped past. I only got a glimpse of him as we drove by.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Verb
Only a few hours after its birth, astronomers successfully glimpsed the aftermath of a nearby supernova. Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 13 Nov. 2025 Though the object is too faint to be seen with the naked eye, stargazers with a powerful telescopes or binoculars may be able to glimpse it, according to LiveScience. Eric Lagatta, USA Today, 11 Nov. 2025
Noun
In a series of clips and photos posted to her Instagram Stories, the mom of one shared a glimpse into her celebrations, which included martinis and a pink five-tier cake. Kirsty Hatcher, PEOPLE, 21 Nov. 2025 His video then cuts to a brief glimpse of the extreme weather conditions that took hold, with high winds sending hail and rain lashing down across the streets. Jack Beresford, MSNBC Newsweek, 21 Nov. 2025 See All Example Sentences for glimpse

Word History

Etymology

Verb and Noun

Middle English glimsen; akin to Middle High German glimsen to glimmer, Old English glǣm gleam

First Known Use

Verb

14th century, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 2

Noun

circa 1540, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of glimpse was in the 14th century

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Glimpse.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/glimpse. Accessed 27 Nov. 2025.

Kids Definition

glimpse

1 of 2 verb
glimpsed; glimpsing
: to take a brief look : see momentarily or incompletely
glimpsed the deer running
glimpser noun

glimpse

2 of 2 noun
: a short hurried view
catch a glimpse of something rushing by

More from Merriam-Webster on glimpse

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!