glint

1 of 2

verb

ˈglint 

glinted; glinting; glints

intransitive verb

1

a

archaic : to glance off an object

b

of rays of light : to be reflected at an angle from a surface

2

: to give off reflection in brilliant flashes

also : gleam

3

: to look quickly or briefly : glance

4

: to appear briefly or faintly

transitive verb

: to cause to glint

glint

2 of 2

noun

1

: a tiny bright flash of light

2

: a brief or faint manifestation : glimmer

a glint of recognition

also : a trace of emotion expressed through the eyes

a steely glint in his eye

Synonyms

Verb

• gleam
• flash

Choose the Right Synonym for glint

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

Examples of glint in a Sentence

Verb

The sun glinted off the tops of the waves.

The waves glinted in the sunlight.

Noun

He saw glints of sunlight on the river's surface.

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

Gothic cathedrals, art deco villas, vintage yellow trams, impeccably dressed signore, bright red Negronis glinting in the sun—these are some of the most classic symbols of Milan, but there’s a whole other side to the city, one that’s contemporary, cosmopolitan, and just plain cool. —Laura Itzkowitz, AFAR Media, 3 Oct. 2025

Miles Mykkanen’s Sam gets to unsheathe his glinting high tenor, and Lauren Snouffer’s 14-year-old Sarah tosses her lithe soprano voice into airborne vaults. —Justin Davidson, Vulture, 30 Sep. 2025

Noun

With a permanent glint in his eye, Philip was the rock that kept Queen Elizabeth smiling. —Stephanie Nolasco , Ashley Papa, FOXNews.com, 28 Sep. 2025

Tiny fossils hint at when birds began making their mind-blowing journey to the Arctic to breed Golden autumn sunlight glints through the sedges and shrubs of the tundra in northern Alaska. —Kate Wong, Scientific American, 16 Sep. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Verb

Middle English, to dart obliquely, glint, alteration of glenten, of Scandinavian origin; akin to Swedish dialect glänta to clear up; akin to Old High German glanz bright, Old English geolu yellow — more at yellow

First Known Use

Verb

14th century, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1a

Noun

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for glint

• clint
• dint
• hint
• lint
• mint
• print
• quint
• quinte
• splint
• sprint
• squint
• stint

Kids Definition

glint

verb

ˈglint

: to shine by reflection:

a

: to shine with small bright flashes

b

: to shine briefly

glint noun