glistening

adjective

glis·​ten·​ing ˈgli-sᵊn-iŋ 

: 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

Synonyms of glistening

• polished
• glossy
• sleek
• gleaming
• satin

Examples of glistening in a Sentence

a glistening marble table top

Recent Examples on the Web

In Manhattan, a celery root ice cream floats in a briny celeriac soda at Smithereens, and at Echelon in Ann Arbor, Michigan, savory corn ice cream gets topped with a glistening dollop of caviar. —Charlie Kolodziej, Bon Appetit Magazine, 23 Jan. 2026

Curving around the glistening, glacial Sarmiento Lake, an amphitheater of rooms gazes up at the Paine massif, with scenes constantly shifting depending on the time of day. —Sarah Marshall, Condé Nast Traveler, 22 Jan. 2026

Like a concealer that resists settling into fine lines or a hair oil that leaves strands glistening, not greasy, a retinol cream suitable for dry, sensitive skin is somewhat of a rarity in the beauty world. —Sophie Wirt, InStyle, 21 Jan. 2026

Months after its release, singles from the Prodigy and the Chemical Brothers wound their way up the radio charts alongside alt-rock holdovers and glistening pop ballads. —Sasha Geffen, Pitchfork, 21 Jan. 2026

Last Sunday night at the 2026 Golden Globes, Tessa Thompson wore a bright green dress covered in glistening sequins by Balenciaga, designed for her by the house’s new designer Pierpaolo Piccioli, who came from Valentino. —José Criales-Unzueta, Vanity Fair, 16 Jan. 2026

New glistening towers soar high above the historic skyline. —Jenna Prestininzi, Freep.com, 13 Jan. 2026

Ready to pound questions into arepas, glistening palms. —Hazlitt, 9 Jan. 2026

Everton’s glistening new stadium may come with a global beer sponsor, but their first game of the New Year there was utterly sobering. —Greg O'Keeffe, New York Times, 5 Jan. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for glistening

• christening
• listening