glistened; glistening
ˈgli-sᵊn-iŋ 
: to give off a sparkling or lustrous reflection of or as if of a moist or polished surface
Synonyms
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
Chris Gallagher, USA TODAY, 18 Apr. 2024
Located on the 14th floor, the hotel’s lone restaurant, Sophie, serves brasserie-style European fare with Japanese ingredients (see: wagyu strip steak au poivre and glistening crudo of market fish).
—Nicole Trilivas, Travel + Leisure, 7 Apr. 2024
The film jumps into nature-doc mode when the creature visualizes his ancestral roots in southwest Africa along the Okavango River in the first of many stunning drone shots, this one capturing a hippo herd’s bodies glistening like smooth stones in shallow water.
—David Rooney, The Hollywood Reporter, 20 Feb. 2024
Fresh strawberries, a crisp shortbread crust and that sweet gelatin that makes the berries glisten.
—Adriene Rathbun, Miami Herald, 31 Jan. 2024
Or make Oatmeal Baked Apples that glisten on the plate.
—Nina Moskowitz, Bon Appétit, 28 Mar. 2024
Much like long-time rival Calgary, the energy industry stoked Edmonton’s 20th-century boom and a downtown area that glistens with modern high-rise office buildings and condo towers.
—Joe Yogerst, Forbes, 20 Feb. 2024
Why eyes glisten as people rise from their seats when the orchestra reaches the rousing conclusion.
—Gustavo Arellano, Los Angeles Times, 14 Feb. 2024
Suggestive and radiant, the jewels glisten around the neck, just like the traces of the perfume itself.
—Lindsay Talbot, New York Times, 7 Feb. 2024
Martha Schwendener, New York Times, 13 Mar. 2024
As the twinkle of bulbous holiday ornaments fade away, the gilded glisten of the 2024 Golden Globes arrives, and EW has some bold predictions for winners in the major categories that could be handed out during Sunday's ceremony.
—Joey Nolfi, EW.com, 5 Jan. 2024
Most lip oils tend to lose their glisten on me after about 20 minutes and either dry my lips out further or leave splotchy color behind.
—Lindsey Metrus, Peoplemag, 30 May 2023
Murray recommends shimmering shades to anyone looking to update their makeup bag, as they can be used for a subtle glisten during the day and intensified for a smokey eye at night.
—Kiana Murden, Vogue, 17 Mar. 2023
Deenihan applied both the Sol de Janeiro Glowmotions Glow Body Oil (in the Rio Sunset shade) and the Supergoop Play SPF 50 Spray to create a gorgeous glisten on the former Lizzie McGuire star.
—Claire Harmeyer, PEOPLE.com, 12 May 2022
For the glisten of recent tears, apply Stila Cosmetics Glitter & Glow Liquid Eye Shadow in Diamond Dust, and echo with a trace of Saie Starglow along the cheekbones and cupid’s bow.
—Calin Van Paris, Vogue, 9 Dec. 2022
Many of Oman’s wadis, or desert valleys, dry up in the scorching summer months, but at Wadi Bani Khalid, wide pools of water glisten year-round.
—Michael Snyder, New York Times, 17 Nov. 2022
Richie is almost back at the water fountain, eyes a-glisten with memory.
—Danyel Smith, Los Angeles Times, 24 Feb. 2022
Verb
Shiny perfume bottles, lush cosmetic boxes, and glistening spirit flasks evoke the desire to purchase.
—Chris Gallagher, USA TODAY, 18 Apr. 2024
Located on the 14th floor, the hotel’s lone restaurant, Sophie, serves brasserie-style European fare with Japanese ingredients (see: wagyu strip steak au poivre and glistening crudo of market fish).
—Nicole Trilivas, Travel + Leisure, 7 Apr. 2024
The film jumps into nature-doc mode when the creature visualizes his ancestral roots in southwest Africa along the Okavango River in the first of many stunning drone shots, this one capturing a hippo herd’s bodies glistening like smooth stones in shallow water.
—David Rooney, The Hollywood Reporter, 20 Feb. 2024
Fresh strawberries, a crisp shortbread crust and that sweet gelatin that makes the berries glisten.
—Adriene Rathbun, Miami Herald, 31 Jan. 2024
Or make Oatmeal Baked Apples that glisten on the plate.
—Nina Moskowitz, Bon Appétit, 28 Mar. 2024
Much like long-time rival Calgary, the energy industry stoked Edmonton’s 20th-century boom and a downtown area that glistens with modern high-rise office buildings and condo towers.
—Joe Yogerst, Forbes, 20 Feb. 2024
Why eyes glisten as people rise from their seats when the orchestra reaches the rousing conclusion.
—Gustavo Arellano, Los Angeles Times, 14 Feb. 2024
Suggestive and radiant, the jewels glisten around the neck, just like the traces of the perfume itself.
—Lindsay Talbot, New York Times, 7 Feb. 2024
Noun
Two decades on, the millennial glisten has given way to organic austerity; the dominant tones are now ocher and umber, turmeric and coffee.
—Martha Schwendener, New York Times, 13 Mar. 2024
As the twinkle of bulbous holiday ornaments fade away, the gilded glisten of the 2024 Golden Globes arrives, and EW has some bold predictions for winners in the major categories that could be handed out during Sunday's ceremony.
—Joey Nolfi, EW.com, 5 Jan. 2024
Most lip oils tend to lose their glisten on me after about 20 minutes and either dry my lips out further or leave splotchy color behind.
—Lindsey Metrus, Peoplemag, 30 May 2023
Murray recommends shimmering shades to anyone looking to update their makeup bag, as they can be used for a subtle glisten during the day and intensified for a smokey eye at night.
—Kiana Murden, Vogue, 17 Mar. 2023
Deenihan applied both the Sol de Janeiro Glowmotions Glow Body Oil (in the Rio Sunset shade) and the Supergoop Play SPF 50 Spray to create a gorgeous glisten on the former Lizzie McGuire star.
—Claire Harmeyer, PEOPLE.com, 12 May 2022
For the glisten of recent tears, apply Stila Cosmetics Glitter & Glow Liquid Eye Shadow in Diamond Dust, and echo with a trace of Saie Starglow along the cheekbones and cupid’s bow.
—Calin Van Paris, Vogue, 9 Dec. 2022
Many of Oman’s wadis, or desert valleys, dry up in the scorching summer months, but at Wadi Bani Khalid, wide pools of water glisten year-round.
—Michael Snyder, New York Times, 17 Nov. 2022
Richie is almost back at the water fountain, eyes a-glisten with memory.
—Danyel Smith, Los Angeles Times, 24 Feb. 2022
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'glisten.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near glisten
Cite this Entry
“Glisten.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/glisten. Accessed 23 Apr. 2024.
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