sparkled; sparkling
ˈspär-k(ə-)liŋ 
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
: to cause to glitter or shine
1
: a little spark : scintillation
2
: the quality of sparkling
3
a
b
: the quality or state of being effervescent
Synonyms
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
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Recent Examples on the Web
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
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
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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.
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Kids Definition
sparkle
1 of 2 verb
spar·kle
ˈspär-kəl
sparkled; sparkling
-k(ə-)liŋ
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 noun1
: a little flash of light
2
: the quality of sparkling
3
: the quality or state of being effervescent
More from Merriam-Webster on sparkle
Nglish: Translation of sparkle for Spanish Speakers
Britannica English: Translation of sparkle for Arabic Speakers
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