gleam

noun \ ˈglēm \

|Updated on: 8 Aug 2018

Tip: Synonym Guide

Examples: gleam in a Sentence

Definition of gleam

1 a : a transient appearance of subdued or partly obscured light

the gleam of dawn in the east

b (1) : a small bright light

the gleam of a match

(2) : glint

a gleam in his eyes

2 : a brief or faint appearance

a gleam of hope

—

gleamy

play \ˈglē-mē\ adjective

See gleam defined for English-language learners

See gleam defined for kids

Examples of gleam in a Sentence

He saw the gleam of a flashlight in the distance.
the rich gleam of the polished wood

Recent Examples of gleam from the Web

Those yellow jersey gleam as brightly as ever but in a modern age, Brazil's soccer has lost some of its twinkle.

— martin rogers, USA TODAY, "Brazil is no longer the class of world soccer," 6 July 2018
And, once again, all three gel-to-powder shades (Iridescent Pink 003, Fine Gold 003, and Bronze Nectar 003) can be worn separately, or layered for a runway-ready gleam.

— refinery29.com, "Pat McGrath Shares Her Runway Highlighting Technique," 13 June 2018
As torchbearers for the counterculture, Vouga, 30, and his partner, Lauren Tackberry, 27, have created a home in Berkeley that is refreshingly devoid of the superficial gleam that disposable modernism often emits.

— leilani marie labong, San Francisco Chronicle, "Peace, love and a ’70s vibe rock a Berkeley home," 1 June 2018
Table spacing is generous, noise levels are manageable and everything gleams.

— phil vettel, chicagotribune.com, "Review: Glam-rich Blvd is ready for its close-up," 24 May 2018
Kaffir lime leaves gleam, dark as jade, shredded down to the width of pine needles.

— ligaya mishan, New York Times, "Burmese Cuisine, a New York Rarity, at Rangoon Spoon," 24 May 2018
But today’s reality was no more than a gleam in the eye of the suffragists who descended on Nashville, Tenn., in July 1920 for the climactic battle of the decades-long struggle to win the vote for women.

— fergus m. bordewich, WSJ, "‘The Woman’s Hour’ Review: Friends and Foes of the 19th Amendment," 21 June 2018
The dissonance between the soap-bubble gleam of the ideal and the jagged loneliness that lies within is the animating force at the heart of this touchingly multivalent work.

— jeremy eichler, BostonGlobe.com, "Behind the white picket fence, portraits of a jagged loneliness," 13 May 2018
Diamond’s new gleam A new prism into Gates’ durability are Henry’s injury detours.

— tom krasovic, sandiegouniontribune.com, "Chargers would be lucky to bring back Antonio Gates," 24 May 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'gleam.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of gleam

Middle English gleem, from Old English glǣm; akin to Old English geolu yellow — more at yellow

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 15th century

in the meaning defined at sense 1a

See Words from the same year

gleam Synonyms

Synonyms

blaze, flare, fluorescence, glare, glow, illumination, incandescence, light, luminescence, radiance, shine;

Near Antonyms

blackness, dark, darkness, dimness, dusk, duskiness, gloom, night, shadow;

daylight, moonlight, sunlight, sunshine;

afterglow, aureole (or aureola), aurora, beam, halo, ray, shaft, streak, stream, sunbeam;

glisten, gloss, luster (or lustre), polish, reflection, sheen;

gleam

verb

Definition of gleam

gleamed; gleaming; gleams

intransitive verb

1 : to shine with or as if with subdued steady light or moderate brightness

2 : to appear briefly or faintly

a light gleamed in the distance

transitive verb

: to cause to gleam

See gleam defined for English-language learners

Examples of gleam in a Sentence

The sun gleamed on the water.
His eyes were gleaming with delight.

Recent Examples of gleam from the Web

After an hour, the tile counters looked like new, and the kitchen gleamed.

— marni jameson, OrlandoSentinel.com, "7 mistakes rookie DIY decorators make," 13 July 2018
Owned by Yara, the world's biggest producer of ammonia, and completed in 2006, the plant is still gleaming.

— robert f. service, Science | AAAS, "Ammonia—a renewable fuel made from sun, air, and water—could power the globe without carbon," 12 July 2018
On the day, a colourful cascade of fireworks illuminated Astana’s gleaming space-age facades.

— The Economist, "The president of Kazakhstan throws himself a modest birthday bash," 12 July 2018
Only Russia or Croatia, followed by either Belgium of France stand in the way of Harry Kane's big beautiful hands wrapping around the gleaming Jules Rimet.

— SI.com, "It's Coming Home! Twitter Goes Berserk as England March Into First World Cup Semi-Final Since 1990," 7 July 2018
The gleaming new arena will host an Ultimate Fighting Championship card on Dec. 15, it was announced on Saturday.

— ben steele, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "UFC is coming back to Milwaukee, this time to new arena," 7 July 2018
A few years ago, developers David Cordish and the Paterakis family suggested a gleaming new arena on Piers 5 and 6 on the Inner Harbor.

— scott dance, baltimoresun.com, "Report: Baltimore Convention Center expansion, including new arena and hotel, could take six years," 6 July 2018
The result of these efforts can be seen from the air above the lush sugar-cane fields of Gavião Peixoto in rural São Paulo, home to one of Embraer’s gleaming production facilities.

— samantha pearson and jeffrey lewis, WSJ, "Boeing-Embraer Deal Faces Political Backlash in Brazil," 6 July 2018
Inside there’s a gleaming white helm, with two captains chairs, and living quarters that wouldn’t look out of place in 2001: A Space Odyssey, with an almost harshly minimalist white design.

— jack stewart, WIRED, "The Funky Boat Circling the Planet on Renewable Energy and Hydrogen Gas," 5 July 2018

First Known Use of gleam

1508

in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1

See Words from the same year

NEW! Time Traveler

gleam Synonyms

Synonyms

coruscate, flame, flash, glance, glimmer, glint, glisten, glister, glitter, luster (or lustre), scintillate, shimmer, spangle, sparkle, twinkle, wink, winkle;

Related Words

beam, radiate, shine;

bedazzle, blind, daze, dazzle;

blaze, burn, flare, glare, glow;

Synonym Discussion of gleam

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

GLEAM Defined for English Language Learners

gleam

noun

Definition of gleam for English Language Learners

: a small, bright light
: a bright or shining quality
: a small amount or sign of something

gleam

verb

Definition of gleam for English Language Learners

: to shine brightly

GLEAM Defined for Kids

gleam

noun \ ˈglēm \

Definition of gleam for Students

1 : a faint, soft, or reflected light

the first gleam of dawn

2 : a bright or shining look

She had a gleam in her eyes.

3 : a short or slight appearance

a gleam of hope

gleam

verb

Definition of gleam for Students

gleamed; gleaming

1 : to shine with a soft light

2 : to give out gleams of light

Synonym Discussion of gleam

gleam, sparkle, and glitter mean to send forth light. gleam is used when light shines through something else or is reflected or shines against a dark background.