glance

1 of 2

verb

ˈglan(t)s 

glanced; glancing

intransitive verb

1

a

: to take a quick look at something

glanced at his watch

b

of the eyes : to move swiftly from one thing to another

2

: to strike a surface obliquely so as to go off at an angle

The bullet glanced off the wall.

3

a

: to make sudden quick movements

dragonflies glancing over the pond

b

: to flash or gleam with quick intermittent rays of light

brooks glancing in the sun

4

: to touch on a subject or refer to it briefly or indirectly

The work glances at the customs of ancient cultures.

transitive verb

1

: to give an oblique path of direction to:

a

: to throw or shoot so that the object deflects from a surface

b

archaic : to aim (something, such as an innuendo) indirectly : insinuate

2

archaic

a

: to take a quick look at

b

: to catch a glimpse of

glancer noun

glance

2 of 2

noun

1

a

: a quick or cursory look

was good at sizing people up at a glance

b

: a swift movement of the eyes

2

a

: a deflected impact or blow

b

archaic : a rapid oblique movement

3

a

: a quick intermittent flash or gleam

b

archaic : a sudden quick movement

4

archaic

a

: a brief satirical reference to something : gibe

b

: allusion

Phrases

at first glance

: on first consideration

At first glance the subject seems harmless enough.

Synonyms

Verb

• bounce
• rebound
• skip

Noun

• glimpse
• peek
• look

Examples of glance in a Sentence

Verb

Glancing down, she noticed her shoe was untied.

I glanced at my watch.

He sat quietly, glancing through a magazine.

She glanced up from her book when he entered the room.

Noun

He gave me a quick glance over his shoulder.

I took a glance at the newspaper this morning.

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

One or two sat on the floor, encircled by newspaper articles, glancing back and forth as if trying to decode a message. —Literary Hub, 28 Oct. 2025

At one point, Perry lovingly glanced at Trudeau. —Christina Dugan Ramirez, FOXNews.com, 26 Oct. 2025

Noun

And at first glance, Microsoft appears to have extracted significant concessions from the AI lab. —Beatrice Nolan, Fortune, 28 Oct. 2025

View gallery - 9 images The new Hex from New Zealand company KEA Outdoors looks like an unassuming folding EDC (everyday carry) knife upon first glance. —New Atlas, 27 Oct. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Verb and Noun

Middle English glencen, glenchen

First Known Use

Verb

15th century, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 2

Noun

1503, in the meaning defined at sense 3a

Phrases Containing glance

• at a glance
• at first glance
• dart a glance/look at
• second glance
• side-glance
• steal a glance

Rhymes for glance

• chance
• dance
• hance
• hanse
• lance
• manse
• prance
• stance
• trance
• advance
• askance
• enhance

Kids Definition

glance

1 of 2 verb

ˈglan(t)s 

glanced; glancing

1

: to strike and fly off at an angle

the arrow glanced off the shield

2

: to give a quick or hasty look

glanced at my watch

glanced up from a book

3

: glint sense a

glancingly

ˈglan(t)-siŋ-lē

adverb

glance

2 of 2 noun

1

: a quick flash or gleam that comes and goes

2

: an impact or blow that is turned aside

3

a

: a swift movement of the eyes

b

: a quick or hasty look