twinkle

1 of 2

verb

twin·​kle ˈtwiŋ-kəl How to pronounce twinkle (audio)
twinkled; twinkling ˈtwiŋ-k(ə-)liŋ How to pronounce twinkle (audio)

intransitive verb

1
: to shine with a flickering or sparkling light : scintillate
2
a
: to appear bright especially with merriment
his eyes twinkled
b
: to flutter the eyelids
3
: to flutter or flit rapidly

transitive verb

1
: to cause to shine with fluctuating light
2
: to flicker or flirt rapidly
twinkled the straight, red-lacquered toesGlenway Wescott
twinkler noun

twinkle

2 of 2

noun

1
: an intermittent radiance : flicker, sparkle
2
: a rapid flashing motion : flit
3
: a wink of the eyelids
4
: the instant's duration of a wink : twinkling
twinkly adjective

Examples of twinkle in a Sentence

Verb The lights of the city twinkled in the distance. Stars twinkle in the night sky. Her eyes twinkled with excitement. Noun We saw the twinkle of a candle in the window. in just a twinkle, the shooting star was gone
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Verb
Check out Alila Ventana Big Sur for rustic luxury where the lush forest meets the coastal cliffs Garland Ranch Regional Park – In Carmel Valley, Garland Ranch Regional Park offers a scenic setting for gazing at the twinkling constellations in the serenity of the surrounding Santa Lucia Mountains. Roger Sands, Forbes.com, 8 July 2025 Fellow porters huffing their way up a hillside; the stars twinkling above the desert sand; the layered waves of Caroline Polachek’s staggeringly beautiful title song cresting over the horizon at just the right moment. David Ehrlich, IndieWire, 23 June 2025
Noun
As much as has been said about the future of Nashville’s East Bank, tangible change is still mostly a twinkle in the city’s eye. Austin Hornbostel, The Tennessean, 2 July 2025 Park develops an especially strong rapport with the audience, her wry delivery belied by a mischievous twinkle in her eyes. Emily McClanathan, Chicago Tribune, 1 July 2025 See All Example Sentences for twinkle

Word History

Etymology

Verb

Middle English, from Old English twinclian; akin to Middle High German zwinken to blink

First Known Use

Verb

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1

Noun

1548, in the meaning defined at sense 3

Time Traveler
The first known use of twinkle was before the 12th century

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Twinkle.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/twinkle. Accessed 15 Jul. 2025.

Kids Definition

twinkle

1 of 2 verb
twin·​kle ˈtwiŋ-kəl How to pronounce twinkle (audio)
twinkled; twinkling -k(ə-)liŋ How to pronounce twinkle (audio)
1
: to shine or cause to shine with a flickering or sparkling light
2
: to appear bright with amusement
his eyes twinkled
3
: to move or flutter rapidly
twinkler noun

twinkle

2 of 2 noun
1
: a very short time
2
twinkly adjective

More from Merriam-Webster on twinkle

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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