sparkle

1 of 2

verb

spar·​kle ˈspär-kəl How to pronounce sparkle (audio)
sparkled; sparkling ˈspär-k(ə-)liŋ How to pronounce sparkle (audio)

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

sparkle

2 of 2

noun

1
: a little spark : scintillation
2
: the quality of sparkling
3
b
: the quality or state of being effervescent
Choose the Right Synonym for 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

Examples of sparkle in a Sentence

Verb The dancers sparkled on stage. Her eyes sparkled with pride. Noun 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 See More
Recent Examples on the Web
Verb
Order a glass of something sparkling (the bubbles should help stimulate your taste buds) and top it up with some zesty orange juice – the acidity of the juice will help with the flavor. Olivia Morelli, Condé Nast Traveler, 13 Nov. 2023 Cheese Candle Three Cheeses Ornament For an elevated decorative gift, go with this petite brie, blue cheese, and Swiss glass ornament that sparkles. Devra Ferst, Bon Appétit, 10 Nov. 2023 Early risers may catch the sliver of a crescent moon on the eastern horizon with bright Venus sparkling above it. David Streit, Washington Post, 9 Nov. 2023 The structure now sparkles under the sun after almost 2,000 years' worth of grime was blasted off the facade. Melissa Locker, Travel + Leisure, 9 Nov. 2023 The historian further points to the prowess of the series’ three Queens — Claire Foy, Olivia Colman and Imelda Staunton — as a reason the show so brightly sparkled. Janine Henni, Peoplemag, 8 Nov. 2023 And then there were two: the same dress in neon lemon-y chartreuse sparkled under the light like an alien fantasy creature. Kristen Bateman, Vogue, 3 Nov. 2023 This black Christmas tree is a nine-foot wonder that sparkles. Savannah Smith, Rolling Stone, 25 Oct. 2023 Naturally, both recipes come with a bottle of Sanpellegrino sparkling water, and make for a welcome addition to anyone’s holiday table this season. Tori Latham, Robb Report, 1 Nov. 2023
Noun
The story centered on two women rediscovering their strength and sparkle by mending their fractured friendship finds the correct balance of cynical and saccharine without upsetting the scale. Courtney Howard, Variety, 16 Nov. 2023 The cold drink cup design, which is the first new one introduced since 2021, also features whimsy baubles and sparkles, all dressed in a uniform white color. Sabrina Weiss, Peoplemag, 15 Nov. 2023 Hamburgers and fries blend with shiny sparkles, silver dresses and bracelets as groups of 20-somethings indulge in a pre-show beauty rituals. David Feliba, Washington Post, 14 Nov. 2023 Here, wooden beads pair with white and gold beads to create homemade ornaments with the perfect amount of sparkle. Emily Vanschmus, Better Homes & Gardens, 13 Nov. 2023 In true Swarovski fashion, the space was doused in silver and sparkles creating an opulent experience for the guests. Florence O'Connor, Vogue, 8 Nov. 2023 Per Set: Four Best Beaded Design Imports Beaded Napkin Rings View On Wayfair Add some stylish sparkle to your table with these affordable beaded napkin rings. Maya Polton, Better Homes & Gardens, 2 Nov. 2023 Find it on Amazon These Hoop Earrings To Feel Like A Million Bucks Bring a sparkle to someone’s life with these Hoop Earrings that are a testament to luxury and style. Mia Meltzer, Rolling Stone, 2 Nov. 2023 Meanwhile, a pair of earrings from Ben-Amun add some welcome sparkle. Laura Jackson, Vogue, 31 Oct. 2023 See More

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'sparkle.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Verb

Middle English, frequentative of sparken to spark

Noun

Middle English, diminutive of sparke

First Known Use

Verb

13th century, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1a

Noun

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of sparkle was in the 13th century

Dictionary Entries Near sparkle

Cite this Entry

“Sparkle.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sparkle. Accessed 30 Nov. 2023.

Kids Definition

sparkle

1 of 2 verb
spar·​kle ˈspär-kəl How to pronounce sparkle (audio)
sparkled; sparkling -k(ə-)liŋ How to pronounce sparkle (audio)
1
a
: to throw out sparks
b
: to give off small flashes of light
the diamond sparkled
2
: to do or play very well
sparkled at shortstop
3
: effervesce sense 1
sparkling wine
4
: to become lively or active
the conversation sparkled

sparkle

2 of 2 noun
1
: a little flash of light
2
: the quality of sparkling
3
: the quality or state of being effervescent

More from Merriam-Webster on sparkle

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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