glimpse

1 of 2

verb

ˈglim(p)s 

glimpsed; glimpsing

transitive verb

: to get a brief look at

glimpsed him as he sped by in his car

intransitive verb

1

: to look briefly

glimpsed at the letter and then threw it aside

2

archaic : glimmer

glimpser noun

glimpse

2 of 2

noun

1

: a fleeting view or look

caught only a glimpse of the mugger

2

archaic : glimmer

Synonyms of glimpse

Verb

• peek
• glance

Noun

• glance
• peek
• look

Examples of glimpse in a Sentence

Verb

We glimpsed him through the window as his car sped past.

just glimpsed at the photo then turned his attention elsewhere

Noun

We caught a glimpse of him through the window as his car sped past.

I only got a glimpse of him as we drove by.

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

For Good is a much darker picture of Oz than what audiences glimpsed in Wicked, meaning parents may be more inclined to take their kids to Zootopia 2, especially considering the recent dearth of family films in theaters. —Ryan Coleman, Entertainment Weekly, 23 Nov. 2025

Dorothy and Toto are glimpsed repeatedly from a distance without ever being fully seen or heard, but the transplanted Kansas farm girl turned shoe thief makes her presence felt in all kinds of meddlesome ways. —David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 18 Nov. 2025

Noun

Auburn caught a possible glimpse of its future Saturday when freshman Deuce Knight ran for a 75-yard touchdown on the first play of a 62-17 win against Mercer last Saturday. —Arkansas Online, 28 Nov. 2025

The spacecraft captured swirling clouds over Earth's blue oceans and glimpses of continents passing below. —Samantha Mathewson, Space.com, 28 Nov. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Verb and Noun

Middle English glimsen; akin to Middle High German glimsen to glimmer, Old English glǣm gleam

First Known Use

Verb

14th century, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 2

Noun

circa 1540, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for glimpse

• chimps
• limps
• pimps
• shrimps

Kids Definition

glimpse

1 of 2 verb

ˈglim(p)s 

glimpsed; glimpsing

: to take a brief look : see momentarily or incompletely

glimpsed the deer running

glimpser noun

glimpse

2 of 2 noun

: a short hurried view

catch a glimpse of something rushing by