sparkle

verb spar·kle \ ˈspär-kəl \

|Updated on: 14 Aug 2018

Tip: Synonym Guide

Examples: sparkle in a Sentence

Definition of sparkle

sparkled; sparkling play \ˈspär-k(ə-)liŋ\

intransitive verb

1 a : to throw out sparks

b : to give off or reflect bright moving points of light

c : to perform brilliantly

2 : effervesce

wine that sparkles

3 : to become lively or animated

the dialogue sparkles with wit

eyes sparkling with anger

transitive verb

: to cause to glitter or shine

—

sparkly

play \ˈspär-k(ə-)lē\ adjective

See sparkle defined for English-language learners

See sparkle defined for kids

Examples of sparkle in a Sentence

The dancers sparkled on stage.
Her eyes sparkled with pride.

Recent Examples of sparkle from the Web

The results were sparkling, complete with USB charging ports and contemporary art, but the decline of subway service began to make Cuomo’s priorities seem misplaced.

— william finnegan, The New Yorker, "Can Andy Byford Save the Subways?," 2 July 2018
From filet mignon sandwiches and lobster rolls to pretty slices of watermelon radishes in place of chips with guacamole, there are easy ways to make your July 4 picnic – or any picnic – really sparkle.

— veronica hinke, chicagotribune.com, "Tips to put together the perfect picnic this summer," 20 June 2018
Beckles and Krapcho portray friends with diametrically opposed tastes (sparkles versus camo), followed by Johnston and Luckadoo in a touching father/daughter scene.

— patti restivo, Howard County Times, "In 'Making Advances,' a staged revolution," 14 June 2018
Cecchinato played smart, often sparkling tennis on this overcast day, hitting drop-shot winners in bunches and bold, one-handed backhands down the line.

— christopher clarey, New York Times, "Unseeded Marco Cecchinato on an Unthinkable Ride at French Open," 5 June 2018
The quiet, uncrowded room with sparkling, swirly light fixtures, mauve-gray carpeting and panoramic views of the sea had a luxurious cooling affect.

— si liberman, San Antonio Express-News, "Living it up on MSC Seaside’s ship within a ship," 5 June 2018
The distinction between his two fields of writing has seemed less important over time, since his literary essays brim with personal anecdote and his familiar essays sparkle with literary allusions.

— danny heitman, The Christian Science Monitor, "'The Ideal of Culture' showcases Joseph Epstein’s familiar ease with the treasures of Western culture," 8 May 2018
Colon, who turns 45 on May 24, was sparkling again as the Rangers beat the Blue Jays 7-4 at Rogers Centre.

— stefan stevenson, star-telegram, "Another Big Sexy milestone on Bartolo Colon's resurgency tour | Fort Worth Star-Telegram," 28 Apr. 2018
By Friday morning at 9, the station was sparkling clean, its tiled corridors empty.

— rachel swan, San Francisco Chronicle, "BART’s cat-and-mouse game to keep SF stations clean," 28 Apr. 2018

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

Origin and Etymology of sparkle

Middle English, frequentative of sparken to spark

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 13th century

in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1a

See Words from the same year

sparkle Synonyms

Synonyms

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

Related Words

beam, radiate, shine;

bedazzle, blind, daze, dazzle;

blaze, burn, flare, glare, glow;

Synonym Discussion of sparkle

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

sparkle

noun

Definition of sparkle

1 : a little spark : scintillation

2 : the quality of sparkling

3 a : animation, liveliness

b : the quality or state of being effervescent

See sparkle defined for English-language learners

Examples of sparkle in a Sentence

The sun reflected off the water in bright sparkles of light.
He caught the sparkle of her diamond out of the corner of his eye.
a performance full of sparkle and originality
the sparkle in her eyes

Recent Examples of sparkle from the Web

Perhaps the new team is hoping a little Meghan Markle sparkle will rub off?

— lindsay weinberg, The Hollywood Reporter, "Zosia Mamet, Evan Jonigkeit Model J. Crew's New Political Tees," 31 May 2018
But nothing compares to the magic of seeing an Old World city, a-sparkle after dark, from the deck of a riverboat.

— BostonGlobe.com, "Take me to the river: The other (less blackjack, more bicycling) side of cruising," 8 Apr. 2018
The tags tinkle in the wind and give the dog a permanent sparkle.

— mary forgione, latimes.com, "Yeah, there's a giant bunny in that vineyard — no foolin' — and 9 animals, vegetables and antlers you'll want to stop and see," 1 Apr. 2018
Accessories were kept polished and stylish with taupe suede Manolo Blahniks grounding the look and simple diamond stud Adina Reyter earrings for subtle sparkle.

— edward barsamian, Vogue, "Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, Nods to the Fourth of July By Wearing This American Label," 5 July 2018
Groff’s favored stylistic tone to describe these predicaments is straightforward but moody and metaphorical — magical realism without the sparkle and sense of wonder.

— mark athitakis, latimes.com, "A sensational ill wind blows through Lauren Groff's short story collection, 'Florida'," 8 June 2018
Her daughters with Trevor—Style and Swayzi—are dressed in matching gold sparkle dresses with white faux-fur capes.

— melissa lyttle, Smithsonian, "The First Family of Rodeo," 13 Dec. 2017
Some critics have complained that the African-American museum’s three-tiered crown, which was inspired by a wood sculpture made by an early 20th Century Yoruba artist, turns a dull brown when there’s no sunlight to make the aluminum sparkle.

— blair kamin, chicagotribune.com, "The national African-American museum still stirs the soul — and drops hints of what to expect at the Obama Presidential Center," 11 July 2018
And for million-dollar homes, images that make the property sparkle are essential.

— john sowell, idahostatesman, "The castle on Warm Springs did not sell. Then The New York Times wrote about it. | Idaho Statesman," 19 Apr. 2017

Origin and Etymology of sparkle

Middle English, diminutive of sparke

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 14th century

in the meaning defined at sense 1

See Words from the same year

SPARKLE Defined for English Language Learners

sparkle

verb

Definition of sparkle for English Language Learners

: to produce small flashes of light
: to perform very well
: to be or become bright and lively

sparkle

noun

Definition of sparkle for English Language Learners

: a small flash of bright light
: a lively quality

SPARKLE Defined for Kids

sparkle

verb spar·kle \ ˈspär-kəl \

Definition of sparkle for Students

sparkled; sparkling

1 : to give off small flashes of light

The diamond sparkled.

2 : to be lively or bright

The conversation sparkled.

His eyes sparkled.

sparkle

noun

Definition of sparkle for Students

1 : a little flash of light

sparkles of red light

2 : the quality of being bright or giving off small flashes of light

the sparkle of a diamond

the sparkle of her eyes

Learn More about sparkle

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

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sparkle

Definition of sparkle

sparkly

Examples of sparkle in a Sentence

Recent Examples of sparkle from the Web

Origin and Etymology of sparkle

sparkle Synonyms

Synonyms

Related Words

Synonym Discussion of sparkle

sparkle

Definition of sparkle

Examples of sparkle in a Sentence

Recent Examples of sparkle from the Web

Origin and Etymology of sparkle

SPARKLE Defined for English Language Learners

sparkle

Definition of sparkle for English Language Learners

sparkle

Definition of sparkle for English Language Learners

SPARKLE Defined for Kids

sparkle

Definition of sparkle for Students

sparkle

Definition of sparkle for Students

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