shimmer

verb shim·mer \ ˈshi-mər \

|Updated on: 13 Jul 2018

Tip: Synonym Guide

Examples: shimmer in a Sentence

Definition of shimmer

shimmered; shimmering play \ˈshi-mə-riŋ, ˈshim-riŋ\

intransitive verb

1 : to shine with a soft tremulous or fitful light : glimmer

2 : to reflect a wavering sometimes distorted visual image

transitive verb

: to cause to shimmer

See shimmer defined for English-language learners

See shimmer defined for kids

Examples of shimmer in a Sentence

The road shimmered in the heat.
a sequined dress shimmering under the studio lights

Recent Examples of shimmer from the Web

At the end of his career, after the Breeders’ Cup Classic in October of 2015, American Pharoah weighed 1,175 pounds, now 1,391, softer but still shimmering.

— tim layden, SI.com, "It's Instinctive to Compare Justify's Triple Crown to American Pharoah's but Both Share Connection to Greatness," 10 June 2018
When oil shimmers across surface of skillet, add vegetable mixture.

— claire saffitz, Bon Appetit, "Steak, Snap Pea, and Asparagus Stir-Fry," 4 May 2018
The morning sun hit him full, and his body was aflame in copper and shimmering metallic green, shiny black, bright orange and red and gold and I don’t know how many colors.

— shannon tompkins, Houston Chronicle, "For hunters, South Texas colors a feast for the senses," 3 May 2018
Late one night, Crocker returned to her hotel room and, in a moment of repose, glanced at the mirror and caught a glimpse of something shimmering behind her.

— kate siber, Outside Online, "The Bohemian Heiress Who Shattered 19th-Century Taboos," 24 Apr. 2018
Gold and colored silk threads shimmer against deep blues, their stitching forming complex scenes rife with symbols of protective deities.

— lee lawrence, WSJ, "‘Dramatic Threads: Textiles of Asia’ Review: The Very Fabric of Asian Societies," 17 Mar. 2018
Later in the piece, as the waters become more agitated, the cascading arpeggios are like liquid running through the fingers, all shimmer and sparkle.

— stephen hough, New York Times, "100 Years After Debussy’s Death, He Remains the First ‘Modern’ Composer," 2 Mar. 2018
My mother, a Ghanaian woman with the facial construction of an old West African mask, would outline her eyes in slender black lines, draw in bold, stoic brows and finish with a gold or copper lipstick, shimmering against her mocha complexion.

— alisha acquaye, Teen Vogue, "How the Beauty Looks of Black Panther Express African Pride and Afrofuturism," 13 Feb. 2018
Carrie stunned in a short, shimmering yellow dress alongside her professional hockey-playing hubby.

— taysha murtaugh, Country Living, "Carrie Underwood Made History Last Night at the CMT Awards," 7 June 2018

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

Origin and Etymology of shimmer

Middle English schimeren, from Old English scimerian; akin to Old English scīnan to shine — more at shine

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: before 12th century

in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1

See Words from the same year

shimmer Synonyms

Synonyms

coruscate, flame, flash, glance, gleam, glimmer, glint, glisten, glister, glitter, luster (or lustre), scintillate, spangle, sparkle, twinkle, wink, winkle;

Related Words

beam, radiate, shine;

bedazzle, blind, daze, dazzle;

blaze, burn, flare, glare, glow;

Synonym Discussion of shimmer

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

shimmer

noun

Definition of shimmer

1 : a light that shimmers : subdued sparkle or sheen : glimmer

2 : a wavering sometimes distorted visual image usually resulting from heat-induced changes in atmospheric refraction

—

shimmery

play \ˈshi-mə-rē, ˈshim-rē\ adjective

Recent Examples of shimmer from the Web

Some people call them hair bling or shimmer extensions, too.

— devon abelman, Allure, "K-Pop Star Heize Shows Off Bleach-Free Alternative to Holographic Highlights," 26 June 2018
Liberated’ The bass line has a steel-drum shimmer and an old-Motown sense of uplift; the drums spatter like 2010s trap.

— jon pareles, New York Times, "The Playlist: Kanye West’s Breakout Star 070 Shake, and 10 More New Songs," 8 June 2018
When morning temperatures reach anything over 60 degrees, that's my cue to bust out all my favorite shimmer products for face and body.

— tiffany dodson, SELF, "12 Sparkly Shimmer Products for Face, Hair, and Body on Sale Right Now," 24 May 2018
This plush five-star hotel shimmers with retro glamour, servers are knowledgeable, sandwiches and desserts are eye-popping.

— rosemary mcclure, latimes.com, "Toast Prince Harry and Meghan Markle at one of London's finest afternoon teas," 13 May 2018
Special for this year is a new array of decadent dipped berries with chocolate chips and pink shimmer sugar.

— jennifer jolly, USA TODAY, "Give moms what they want more of this Mother's Day with these life hacks," 7 May 2018
The mirrored exterior shimmers with reflections of surrounding woods, water and brilliant sunsets.

— vincent crampton, OrlandoSentinel.com, "Explore Florida's Polk County: Reclaiming Florida at Streamsong Resort," 6 May 2018
Architect Ahmed Saleem split Muraka into two levels—the top floor features two bedrooms, a sun deck, and an infinity pool that look out onto the shimmer ocean.

— liz stinson, Curbed, "You can stay in this underwater hotel for $50,000 a night," 24 Apr. 2018
Unlike most highlighters, these are loose powders so they can easily be mixed for a customized glow, or mixed with any setting spray as a stand in for M.A.C’s new shimmer Fix + sprays.

— shannon barbour, The Cut, "Jackie Aina’s Highlighters Are Coming to Sephora," 19 Apr. 2018

First Known Use of shimmer

1821

in the meaning defined at sense 1

See Words from the same year

NEW! Time Traveler

SHIMMER Defined for English Language Learners

shimmer

verb

Definition of shimmer for English Language Learners

: to shine with a light that seems to move slightly

SHIMMER Defined for Kids

shimmer

verb shim·mer \ ˈshi-mər \

Definition of shimmer for Students

shimmered; shimmering

: to shine with a wavering light : glimmer

shimmer

noun

Definition of shimmer for Students

: a wavering light

the shimmer of silver leaves

Learn More about shimmer

See words that rhyme with shimmer Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for shimmer Spanish Central: Translation of shimmer Nglish: Translation of shimmer for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of shimmer for Arabic speakers

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shimmer

Definition of shimmer

Examples of shimmer in a Sentence

Recent Examples of shimmer from the Web

Origin and Etymology of shimmer

shimmer Synonyms

Synonyms

Related Words

Synonym Discussion of shimmer

shimmer

Definition of shimmer

shimmery

Recent Examples of shimmer from the Web

First Known Use of shimmer

SHIMMER Defined for English Language Learners

shimmer

Definition of shimmer for English Language Learners

SHIMMER Defined for Kids

shimmer

Definition of shimmer for Students

shimmer

Definition of shimmer for Students

Learn More about shimmer

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