glimpse

1 of 2

verb

ˈglim(p)s 

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

Synonyms of glimpse

Verb

• peek
• glance

Noun

• glance
• peek
• look

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

Verb

When an iceberg the size of Chicago broke away from an Antarctic ice shelf on January 13, Schmidt Ocean Institute scientists raced over in their Falkor (too) research vessel to glimpse what life-forms had been dwelling below. —Andrea Thompson, Scientific American, 25 Dec. 2025

Also glimpsed in the trailer are Hannah Dodd as Francesca Bridgerton, Victor Alli as John Stirling, Daniel Francis as Marcs Anderson, Martins Imhangbe as Will Mondrich, Emma Naomi as Alice Mondrich, John the Footman, Luke Newton as Colin Bridgerton and more. —Dessi Gomez, Deadline, 25 Dec. 2025

Noun

A day after giving a glimpse at his and 18-year-old son Jack's sunny outing at the Baker's Bay Ocean & Golf Club in the Bahamas, the Super Bowl champion shared a photo with all three of his children sitting on a boat. —Alexandra Schonfeld, PEOPLE, 26 Dec. 2025

Closer to Earth, another team captured a glimpse of a dead star's remains. —Sharmila Kuthunur, Space.com, 26 Dec. 2025

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

Rhymes for glimpse

• chimps
• limps
• pimps
• shrimps

Kids Definition

glimpse

1 of 2 verb

ˈglim(p)s 

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