glide

verb \ ˈglīd \

|Updated on: 6 Jul 2018

Examples: glide in a Sentence

Definition of glide

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

See glide defined for English-language learners

See glide defined for kids

Examples of glide in a Sentence

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 of glide from the Web

On Monday morning, social media was rife with liberals complaining that their representatives would endorse the notion that Trump officials should glide through life unmolested.

— benjamin hart, Daily Intelligencer, "Nancy Pelosi Rebukes Maxine Waters for Endorsing Harassment of Trump Officials," 25 June 2018
Customers have attempted to fly with comfort turkeys, gliding possums, snakes, spiders and more.

— glenn fleishman, Fortune, "Delta Airlines Bans Pit Bulls as Service and Support Animals," 23 June 2018
Its float was decorated to mimic the gondola-style boats that glide down waterways in Mexico City, said Sandra Giron, through an interpreter.

— jaimy jones, Houston Chronicle, "Cinco de Mayo parade a colorful expression of heritage, pride," 5 May 2018
The boats rise out of the water for the same reason that airplanes glide up into the sky, albeit with water instead of air.

— sam dangremond, Town & Country, "The 2017 America's Cup Will Be the Most Intense Ever," 3 Apr. 2017
Last night saw Chopra taking to the streets of Manhattan, her thick, swingy brunette hair parted deeply to one side to glide over her shoulders, ends kissed by a sunny, lightened-up shade of honey.

— calin van paris, Vogue, "Priyanka Chopra Has the Perfect Lipstick for a Night Out with Nick Jonas," 13 June 2018
But these massive cartilaginous critters are not the largest fish to ever glide through the ocean.

— julissa treviño, Smithsonian, "Why Did Most Massive Bony Fish Behemoths Die Out?," 4 June 2018
Next up, Cancer season kicks off when the sun glides into this sensitive water sign on Thursday, June 21.

— aliza kelly faragher, Allure, "What Your Sign's June 2018 Horoscope Predictions Mean for You," 29 May 2018
Inside two glass garage doors at G. Garvin Brown III Rowing Center sat half a dozen gleaming white boat shells, waiting to glide across the water.

— danielle lerner, The Courier-Journal, "I tried to row with the Louisville Cardinals and nearly broke the boat," 11 May 2018

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

Origin and Etymology of glide

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

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: before 12th century

in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1

See Words from the same year

glide Synonyms

glide

noun

Definition of glide

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