glare

1 of 2

verb

ˈgler 

glared; glaring

intransitive verb

1

a

: to shine with a harsh uncomfortably brilliant light

b

: stand out, obtrude

2

: to stare angrily or fiercely

glared at me with rage and hate

transitive verb

1

: to express (something, such as hostility) by staring angrily

glared defiance at each other

2

archaic : to cause to be sharply reflected

glare

2 of 2

noun

1

a

: a harsh uncomfortably bright light

the glare of a neon sign

the glare of publicity

especially : painfully bright sunlight

b

: cheap showy brilliance : garishness

enjoyed the glitter and glare of the city's nightlife

2

: an angry or fierce stare

3

: a surface or sheet of smooth and slippery ice

Synonyms of glare

Verb

• glow
• gleam
• burn
• flash
• flare
• flame

Noun

• glow
• light
• gleam
• glint
• illumination

Examples of glare in a Sentence

Verb

The sun glared down relentlessly.

The white snow glared in the morning sunlight.

The teacher glared at him as he walked in late.

Noun

There was a glare coming off the water.

I was blinded by the glare of the approaching headlights.

I shielded my eyes from the glare of the sun.

The car's headlights are designed to cut down on glare.

She responded to the reporters' questions with an angry glare.

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

The second glaring gap in today’s response to AI is tax reform. — Foreign Affairs, 10 Aug. 2026

Despite the glaring risks of facilitating the creation of dangerous propaganda, Moore is doubling down. — Victor Tangermann, Futurism, 6 Aug. 2026

Noun

Usually hidden by the glare of our star, the ethereal corona and its pale, wavering streams of plasma are shaped by the sun’s magnetic field. — Claire Cameron & Lee Billings, Scientific American, 12 Aug. 2026

Then there was the harsh glare of the British media, where Hilton’s reputation as a shoeless spin doctor inspired a character in a fictional TV series. — Ben Paviour, Sacbee.com, 10 Aug. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Verb and Noun

Middle English glaren; akin to Old English glæs glass

First Known Use

Verb

13th century, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1a

Noun

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing glare

• anti-glare

Rhymes for glare

• air
• ayre
• bahr
• bare
• blare
• care
• chair
• claire
• ere
• err
• eyre
• fair

Kids Definition

glare

verb

ˈgla(ə)r, 

ˈgle(ə)r

glared; glaring

1

a

: to shine with a harsh uncomfortably brilliant light

b

: to stand out annoyingly

2

: to stare angrily or fiercely

glare noun

glary

ˈgla(ə)r-ē, 

ˈgle(ə)r-

adjective