glide

1 of 2

verb

ˈglīd 

glided; gliding

intransitive verb

1

: to move smoothly, continuously, and effortlessly

swans gliding over the lake

2

: to go or pass imperceptibly

hours glided by

3

a

of an airplane : to descend gradually in controlled flight

b

: to fly in a glider

4

: to produce a glide (as in music or speech)

transitive verb

: to cause to glide

glide

2 of 2

noun

1

: a calm stretch of shallow water flowing smoothly

2

: the act or action of gliding

3

: portamento

4

a

: a less prominent vowel sound produced by the passing of the vocal organs to or from the articulatory position of a speech sound compare diphthong

b

: semivowel

5

: a device for facilitating movement of something

especially : a circular usually metal button attached to the bottom of furniture legs to provide a smooth surface

Synonyms

Verb

• flow
• drift
• sail
• slide

Examples of glide in a Sentence

Verb

The swans glided over the surface of the lake.

We watched the skiers glide down the slope.

The pilot glided to a safe landing after the engine failed.

The pilot glided the plane to a safe landing.

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

Lego Batman can effortlessly glide from foe to foe, linking punches and kicks from one bad guy to the next. —Jordan Moreau, Variety, 14 Oct. 2025

Rickwood, high in the right circle spotted a wide-open Zellers gliding down the opposite side of the slot. —Tris Wykes, Twin Cities, 13 Oct. 2025

Noun

While watching parrot fish glide by the glass of the 250,000-gallon saltwater reef tank the Seaquarium has maintained for years, Martin said his team plans to build the kind of aquarium complex that will be interesting enough to justify visitors buying tickets just to see it. —Pedro Portal, Miami Herald, 14 Oct. 2025

In Marvel’s Spider-Man 2, Peter Parker and Miles Morales can run, swing, or wind-glide through New York. —Ryan Gaur, Rolling Stone, 14 Oct. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Verb

Middle English, from Old English glīdan; akin to Old High German glītan to glide

First Known Use

Verb

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

Noun

1584, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing glide

• glide path
• glide slope

Rhymes for glide

• bide
• bride
• chide
• cried
• died
• dried
• dyed
• eid
• eide
• eyed
• flied
• fried

Kids Definition

glide

verb

ˈglīd

glided; gliding

1

: to move smoothly, silently, and effortlessly

2

: to descend gradually without enough engine power for level flight

glide in an airplane

glide noun