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 of glance

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

Instead of peering down at your phone at every corner to find your way around a new city, or glancing down to see translations during a conversation with a foreign language speaker, glasses like Google’s can show and recite information right near your line of sight and in your ear. —Lisa Eadicicco, CNN Money, 8 Dec. 2025

Staff glance up when unfamiliar faces enter. —Jesus Mesa, MSNBC Newsweek, 4 Dec. 2025

Noun

At first glance, Spencer Cox, the Republican governor of Utah, seems to be a throwback to 1950s America and the age of Dwight Eisenhower. —John T. Shaw, Twin Cities, 7 Dec. 2025

Photos were obtained by Fox News Digital at the time showing the couple walking hand-in-hand, both beaming with smiles, as Perry threw a loving glance at Trudeau. —Stephanie Giang-Paunon, FOXNews.com, 6 Dec. 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