glistening

adjective

glis·​ten·​ing ˈgli-sᵊn-iŋ How to pronounce glistening (audio)
: shining with reflected light
a damp, glistening surface
… a wonderland of glistening, shallow lakes of rainwater …Joseph Judge
The boatman was a tiny man with glistening brown skin and an almost circular mouth.Bruce Chatwin
… contrasting dark surfaces with glistening decorative details.Architectural Digest
Monroe County will always be unique because it is a collection of little tropical islands sprinkled across the glistening waters off the southern tip of the peninsula.George Laycock
glisteningly adverb
The cup across from her was icily clean, glisteningly empty. Sinclair Lewis

Examples of glistening in a Sentence

a glistening marble table top
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Outdoor scenes especially are artfully composed, such as a distant view of a bridge with the river flowing under it in the foreground, or the glistening look of a puddle on the street at night. Caryn James, HollywoodReporter, 31 Aug. 2025 Its mesmerizing turquoise lakes, towering granite pinnacles, and vast, glistening glaciers have earned the park recognition as the crown jewel of Patagonia region, a vast natural frontier which stretches over 1,000 miles from Chile to the tip of Argentina. Elizabeth Brownfield, Forbes.com, 31 Aug. 2025 Now every table features at least one order, dripping honey butter and glistening like a glazed donut. Bon Appétit Staff & Contributors, Bon Appetit Magazine, 20 Aug. 2025 In a makeshift classroom in a Roseland low-income housing complex, nine women watched nutrition educator Denetria Adams saute a glistening mix of carrots, celery and onion. Kate Armanini, Chicago Tribune, 16 Aug. 2025 The event was a fundraiser supporting non-profit organizations in India, and every other woman in the room was dressed in vibrant colors and glistening saris. Alisha Fernandez Miranda, People.com, 5 Aug. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of glistening was in the 14th century

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Glistening.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/glistening. Accessed 11 Sep. 2025.

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