shimmered; shimmering
ˈshi-mə-riŋ 
ˈshim-riŋ
1
: to shine with a soft tremulous or fitful light : glimmer
2
: to reflect a wavering sometimes distorted visual image
: to cause to shimmer
2
: a wavering sometimes distorted visual image usually resulting from heat-induced changes in atmospheric refraction
Synonyms
Examples of shimmer in a Sentence
Verb
The road shimmered in the heat.
a sequined dress shimmering under the studio lights
Recent Examples on the Web
Maia Torres, Vogue, 4 Apr. 2024
Carey Mulligan shimmers ind af Fred Leighton 1930's gold and diamond swirl necklace by Rene Boivin at the 2024 SAG Awards.
—Beth Bernstein, Forbes, 1 Mar. 2024
The landscape shimmered with color as if a giant rainbow had toppled and splintered across the ground.
—Roger Naylor, The Arizona Republic, 24 Feb. 2024
Snappy, shimmering jalapeño sausages ooze with molten cheese.
—Kayla Stewart, Bon Appétit, 23 Feb. 2024
Then Bissell spied five young clerks standing at attention, with lit torches on long poles, wearing … shimmering black capes?
—Jon Grinspan, Smithsonian Magazine, 1 Apr. 2024
Methane, typically invisible to the naked eye, leaked in such a high concentration that the air shimmered.
—Mark Olalde, ProPublica, 22 Feb. 2024
Taylor Swift shimmered in a sparkly Valentino dress at a Grammys afterparty — and the dress can be yours for a mere $18,000.
—Jordan Greene, Peoplemag, 6 Feb. 2024
The artist decorated the rippling glass of a high, arched window between two galleries in the Jacobs building with nearly imperceptible webs of shimmering gold leaf, which reflects the light passing through.
—Christopher Knight, Los Angeles Times, 21 Mar. 2024
Jessie Quinn, Peoplemag, 12 Apr. 2024
Editor Tip: Henney suggests mature skin types try the shade Petal Power (seen above), a coral pink shade with a touch of gold shimmer.
—Jennifer Hussein, Allure, 9 Apr. 2024
Not all inventions lose their shimmer right away, but the ones that change the world won’t take long to seem humdrum.
—Ian Bogost, The Atlantic, 4 Apr. 2024
Wingard just wants to tint one monster hot pink, another one gold and another the opalescent shimmer of a 12-year-old’s first bottle of nail polish.
—Amy Nicholson, Washington Post, 28 Mar. 2024
Klee Naturals 4-Piece Makeup Kits Kids who love to play in your makeup bag will enjoy having their own makeup kit, complete with two lip shimmers, a blush, eyeshadow, and application brushes.
—Maya Polton, Parents, 24 Mar. 2024
There was a faint white shimmer to his whole face thanks to a myriad of other makeup products the Dukes of Hazzard star helpfully listed in the caption, tagging each company.
—Esme Mazzeo, Peoplemag, 15 Mar. 2024
Returning to the exterior, and the bespoke white paint is given depth with an infusion of aluminum and glass particles, Rolls says, creating an effervescent shimmer.
—Alistair Charlton, Forbes, 29 Feb. 2024
Mix edible luster dust with powdered sugar to tint the coconut on the birds' nest toppings and give your dessert a shimmer.
—Southern Living Editors, Southern Living, 15 Feb. 2024
Verb
Guests shimmered in blinding sequins, swathed in floor-sweeping florals, and sported bold animal prints.
—Maia Torres, Vogue, 4 Apr. 2024
Carey Mulligan shimmers ind af Fred Leighton 1930's gold and diamond swirl necklace by Rene Boivin at the 2024 SAG Awards.
—Beth Bernstein, Forbes, 1 Mar. 2024
The landscape shimmered with color as if a giant rainbow had toppled and splintered across the ground.
—Roger Naylor, The Arizona Republic, 24 Feb. 2024
Snappy, shimmering jalapeño sausages ooze with molten cheese.
—Kayla Stewart, Bon Appétit, 23 Feb. 2024
Then Bissell spied five young clerks standing at attention, with lit torches on long poles, wearing … shimmering black capes?
—Jon Grinspan, Smithsonian Magazine, 1 Apr. 2024
Methane, typically invisible to the naked eye, leaked in such a high concentration that the air shimmered.
—Mark Olalde, ProPublica, 22 Feb. 2024
Taylor Swift shimmered in a sparkly Valentino dress at a Grammys afterparty — and the dress can be yours for a mere $18,000.
—Jordan Greene, Peoplemag, 6 Feb. 2024
The artist decorated the rippling glass of a high, arched window between two galleries in the Jacobs building with nearly imperceptible webs of shimmering gold leaf, which reflects the light passing through.
—Christopher Knight, Los Angeles Times, 21 Mar. 2024
Noun
Constructed from a structural polyester material with metallic woven throughout for a pop of shimmer, this dress offers a moody springtime floral look that works well for garden weddings.
—Jessie Quinn, Peoplemag, 12 Apr. 2024
Editor Tip: Henney suggests mature skin types try the shade Petal Power (seen above), a coral pink shade with a touch of gold shimmer.
—Jennifer Hussein, Allure, 9 Apr. 2024
Not all inventions lose their shimmer right away, but the ones that change the world won’t take long to seem humdrum.
—Ian Bogost, The Atlantic, 4 Apr. 2024
Wingard just wants to tint one monster hot pink, another one gold and another the opalescent shimmer of a 12-year-old’s first bottle of nail polish.
—Amy Nicholson, Washington Post, 28 Mar. 2024
Klee Naturals 4-Piece Makeup Kits Kids who love to play in your makeup bag will enjoy having their own makeup kit, complete with two lip shimmers, a blush, eyeshadow, and application brushes.
—Maya Polton, Parents, 24 Mar. 2024
There was a faint white shimmer to his whole face thanks to a myriad of other makeup products the Dukes of Hazzard star helpfully listed in the caption, tagging each company.
—Esme Mazzeo, Peoplemag, 15 Mar. 2024
Returning to the exterior, and the bespoke white paint is given depth with an infusion of aluminum and glass particles, Rolls says, creating an effervescent shimmer.
—Alistair Charlton, Forbes, 29 Feb. 2024
Mix edible luster dust with powdered sugar to tint the coconut on the birds' nest toppings and give your dessert a shimmer.
—Southern Living Editors, Southern Living, 15 Feb. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'shimmer.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
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Cite this Entry
“Shimmer.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/shimmer. Accessed 18 Apr. 2024.
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