shimmer

1 of 2

verb

shim·​mer ˈshi-mər How to pronounce shimmer (audio)
shimmered; shimmering ˈshi-mə-riŋ How to pronounce shimmer (audio)
ˈshim-riŋ

intransitive verb

1
: to shine with a soft tremulous or fitful light : glimmer
2
: to reflect a wavering sometimes distorted visual image

transitive verb

: to cause to shimmer

shimmer

2 of 2

noun

1
: a light that shimmers : subdued sparkle or sheen : glimmer
2
: a wavering sometimes distorted visual image usually resulting from heat-induced changes in atmospheric refraction
shimmery
ˈshi-mə-rē How to pronounce shimmer (audio)
ˈshim-rē
adjective
Choose the Right Synonym for shimmer

flash, gleam, glint, sparkle, glitter, glisten, glimmer, shimmer mean to send forth light.

flash implies a sudden outburst of bright light.

lightning flashed

gleam suggests a steady light seen through an obscuring medium or against a dark background.

lights gleamed in the valley

glint implies a cold glancing light.

glinting steel

sparkle suggests innumerable moving points of bright light.

the sparkling waters

glitter connotes a brilliant sparkling or gleaming.

glittering diamonds

glisten applies to the soft sparkle from a wet or oily surface.

glistening wet sidewalk

glimmer suggests a faint or wavering gleam.

a distant glimmering light

shimmer means shining with a wavering light.

a shimmering satin dress

Examples of shimmer in a Sentence

Verb The road shimmered in the heat. a sequined dress shimmering under the studio lights
Recent Examples on the Web
Verb
Crows can be beautiful birds whose black feathers shimmer green and violet, like an aurora in the night sky; in late summer, however, Parisian crows looked ragged from their annual molt. Ben Crair, The New Yorker, 5 Mar. 2024 The collection heavily featured shimmering and sparkling pieces, sticking mostly to silver, navy blue and white ensembles with a variety of fur accessories. Nicole Fell, The Hollywood Reporter, 5 Mar. 2024 The cards themselves are printed on thick, heavy-duty card-stock, with foil accents that shimmer when the cards are flipped. Tim Chan, Variety, 4 Mar. 2024 Or at least give you somewhere gorgeous to dream about. 01 of 20 Alabama: Fairhope This gem on Mobile Bay along the shimmering Gulf of Mexico has a charming little downtown complete with a waterfront park, a pair of lovely beaches, and a fishing pier. Southern Living Editors, Southern Living, 4 Mar. 2024 Adamas itself is a tiny fishing port where colorful boats shimmer against the blue waters. Lauren Dana Ellman, Travel + Leisure, 2 Mar. 2024 At first, Lake Manly is difficult to distinguish from the miles of shimmering salt flats before it. Reis Thebault, Washington Post, 1 Mar. 2024 And yet, nestled among the sprawling fairways and shimmering lakes of Tournament Players Club (TPC) Sawgrass – home of the PGA Tour and host to The Players Championship – is a community where one family has holed out on a slice of paradise. Jack Bantock, CNN, 29 Feb. 2024 Once set into motion, the innovative structure can make a full spin in just 33 minutes, capturing views of the shimmering sea and green forest. Abby Montanez, Robb Report, 22 Feb. 2024
Noun
Travis Kelce just walked into Allegiant Stadium and made the whole place shimmer. Brittany Talarico, Peoplemag, 11 Feb. 2024 Kelce arrived at the stadium today similarly clad in head-to-toe black, although his fit was even better suited to making the whole place shimmer. Sara Netzley, EW.com, 11 Feb. 2024 Sunlight shimmers through the misty canopy, making the green moss look brighter and urging visitors into deep introspection. Kathleen Wong, USA TODAY, 4 Jan. 2024 For this evening's look, worn in celebration of Chanel's new Fifth Avenue flagship, Baker created a neon mod eye moment, petal pink and swirls of silver shimmer framed by ample lashes. Calin Van Paris, Vogue, 8 Feb. 2024 Her black eyeliner had the most dramatic — and sharp wing — but was slightly softened with a bit of shimmer. Hedy Phillips, Peoplemag, 5 Feb. 2024 Once the oil shimmers, add the meat and sear it for 2 to 3 minutes, tossing the cubes continuously, until browned on all sides. Jamie Schler, Charlotte Observer, 31 Jan. 2024 And other regions, especially the phenomenon of masking, shimmer with their potential for nuance. Cheri Lucas Rowlands, Longreads, 10 Jan. 2024 But Take Note: The loose powder eyeshadows and body shimmer can get a little messy, so make sure those reclosable sifters stay closed when not in use. Rich Scherr, Parents, 9 Jan. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'shimmer.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Verb

Middle English schimeren, from Old English scimerian; akin to Old English scīnan to shine — more at shine

First Known Use

Verb

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1

Noun

1821, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of shimmer was before the 12th century

Dictionary Entries Near shimmer

Cite this Entry

“Shimmer.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/shimmer. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

shimmer

verb
shim·​mer
ˈshim-ər
shimmered; shimmering
-(ə-)riŋ
: to shine with a wavering light : glimmer
shimmer noun

More from Merriam-Webster on shimmer

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