twinkle

verb

twin·​kle ˈtwiŋ-kəl 

twinkled; twinkling ˈtwiŋ-k(ə-)liŋ 

intransitive verb

1

: to shine with a flickering or sparkling light : scintillate

stars twinkling

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

… in the dark coverts the … beetle twinkles its tiny lamp …

—Haldane MacFall

2

: to flicker or flirt rapidly

… twinkled the straight, red-lacquered toes.

—Glenway Wescott

twinkler

ˈtwiŋ-k(ə-)lər 

noun

Synonyms of twinkle

• flash
• flicker
• sparkle

Examples of twinkle in a Sentence

The lights of the city twinkled in the distance.

Stars twinkle in the night sky.

Her eyes twinkled with excitement.

Recent Examples on the Web

With their tiny, twinkling lights, fireflies are icons of a Georgia summer night. —Charles Seabrook, AJC.com, 6 June 2026

The Danish band’s newfound brightness is apparent from the start, as the album opens with twinkling glockespiel. —Brendan Hay, SPIN, 2 June 2026

This twinkling turquoise-and-peach set looks like a treasure waiting to be discovered at the bottom of the ocean. —Ariel Wodarcyk, InStyle, 29 May 2026

Each year, the plaza at Lincoln Center goes through a vernal transformation, its formal granite parterre converted to a busy dance floor with twinkling lights, part of the center’s Summer for the City programming. —Inkoo Kang, New Yorker, 22 May 2026

Word History

Etymology

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

First Known Use

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

Phrases Containing twinkle

• a twinkle in one's eye
• in the twinkle/twinkling of an eye

Rhymes for twinkle

• crinkle
• sprinkle
• tinkle
• winkle
• wrinkle
• periwinkle

Kids Definition

twinkle

1 of 2 verb

twin·​kle ˈtwiŋ-kəl 

twinkled; twinkling -k(ə-)liŋ 

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

-k(ə-)lər 

noun

twinkle

2 of 2 noun

1

: a very short time

2

: sparkle entry 2 sense 1, flicker

twinkly

-k(ə-)lē 

adjective