glisten

verb

glis·ten | \ ˈgli-sᵊn

glistened; glistening\ ˈgli-sᵊn-iŋ

Definition of glisten

(Entry 1 of 2)

intransitive verb

: to give off a sparkling or lustrous reflection of or as if of a moist or polished surface

glisten

noun

Definition of glisten (Entry 2 of 2)

: glitter, sparkle

Synonyms Choose the Right Synonym Example Sentences Learn More about glisten

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Choose the Right Synonym for glisten

Verb

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 glisten in a Sentence

Verb

Rain made the streets glisten. The streets glistened in the rain. Her eyes glistened with tears. a long beach of glistening sand

Recent Examples on the Web: Verb

From blooming phytoplankton to the glistening beauty of a chilly winter morning, nothing compares to a much-higher-than-bird’s-eye view of our dynamic planet. — Erin Blakemore, The Seattle Times, "Seeking the big picture of our planet? Check out satellite images on NOAA’s website.," 19 Feb. 2019 Arrayed on top of it were glistening chunks of human flesh: a right calf, a right thigh, and a pelvis. — Paul Collins, BostonGlobe.com, "What lies in the lab: The gruesome murder at Harvard that transfixed New England," 11 July 2018 Below, 8 glistening touches for a radiant finish this New Year's Eve—and a bright note in the year ahead. — Zoe Ruffner, Vogue, "8 Gold Beauty Products for Your Brightest New Year’s Eve Yet," 31 Dec. 2018 If Battlefield V is a glistening statue, Post Scriptum is a pile of rocks. — T.c. Sottek, The Verge, "Battlefield V’s single-player stories are the right way to do war games," 20 Nov. 2018 Organic shapes — sometimes resembling glistening fish scales, underground crystals or regal jewels — were the leitmotif on models that looked as if they had been mined from the earth. — Thomas Adamson, The Seattle Times, "Starry Saint Laurent show in Paris sees models walk on water," 25 Sep. 2018 On an overcast day at Ellington Airport outside of Houston, a glistening metallic NASA Super Guppy opened up to reveal relics of the past freshly restored for the future. — Matt Blitz, Popular Mechanics, "Houston, We Have a Resurrection: How Mission Control Came Back from the Brink," 27 Nov. 2018 Behind the cozy cabins is a hanging curtain of glistening wooden snowflakes. — Taylor Mead, House Beautiful, "Watch Magnolia Market Transform For The Holidays," 15 Nov. 2018 Male passenger pigeons were particularly colorful, with red breasts, feet and legs and iridescent pink patches that glistened on the sides of their throats. — Amy Dockser Marcus, WSJ, "Meet the Scientists Bringing Extinct Species Back From the Dead," 9 Oct. 2018

Recent Examples on the Web: Noun

The glisten sinks in a minute later and imparts a velvety texture to your skin, which made spreading on my mineral sunscreen afterward easy—no small feat. — Rachel Nussbaum, Glamour, "Laneige's New Moisturizer Looks Like Whipped Cream for Your Face," 28 Sep. 2018 The sugars will caramelize until the ribs are dark brown, and the salty-spicy-sweet glaze will make the whole thing glisten. — Alyse Whitney, Bon Appetit, "You’d Never Know These BBQ Ribs Were Cooked in the Instant Pot," 20 June 2018 Pale pink scrims of raw Hamachi ($16) glisten with bright plum sauce and pop with the sharp tang of pickled onion. — Michael Nagrant, RedEye Chicago, "At BLVD, you'll find approachable fine dining in a glamorous setting," 6 Oct. 2017 Picture a large Atlantic codfish: Her scales glisten and her chin whiskers are long. — Ben Guarino, Anchorage Daily News, "We’re fishing exactly the wrong fish, scientists warn," 10 May 2018 Built in the 1930s, the crisp 165-foot boat glistens in bright white and shiny wood. — Beth Spotswood, San Francisco Chronicle, "A cruise back in time on the ‘Floating White House’," 25 Apr. 2018 The Stila and Onomie have formulas on the moister side, which covers your highlighter base with a healthy-looking glisten. — Rachel Nussbaum, Glamour, "Call Me Crazy, But I Can't Stop Wearing Brown Blush," 23 Apr. 2018 Gold accents, such as a gold soap dish, glisten throughout the bathroom. — Jason Wilson, chicagotribune.com, "What I learned about America's future from visiting Trump resorts around the world," 14 Mar. 2018 But, as its title implies, much of Man of the Woods also comes with the moonshine-and-mason-jar glisten of country, blues and folk. — Nina Braca, Billboard, "Justin Timberlake's 'Man of the Woods': What Critics Are Saying," 2 Feb. 2018

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