as in glows
the steady giving off of the form of radiation that makes vision possible
the door opened a crack and let in a gleam of light from the hallway
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in glints
to shoot forth bursts of light
fine china and stemware gleaming in the candlelight
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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.
Recent Examples of gleams
Maddie Lee, Los Angeles Times, 28 Mar. 2026
The brilliant white building gleams in all its Art Deco glory, symbolizing Miami’s political and aviation history.
—Miami Herald Archives, Miami Herald, 26 Mar. 2026
Creative fire rises as the nurturing Moon enters Aries and gleams within your 5th House of Creativity, encouraging bold self-expression in whichever way most pleases your heart.
—Tarot.com, Sun Sentinel, 19 Mar. 2026
The sun gleams from third base to Huntington.
—Steven Louis Goldstein, New York Times, 12 Mar. 2026
At last, a few gleams of paving stone showed through the murk in the lane below.
—Literary Hub, 26 Feb. 2026
Your 4th House of Traditions gleams under today’s Full Moon, so private needs are potentially straining against public duties.
—Tarot.com, New York Daily News, 3 Jan. 2026
His new wife, Nina (Brittany Snow), an art dealer who is also Madison’s former assistant, gleams with insecurity.
—Doreen St. Félix, New Yorker, 6 Dec. 2025
Today, while the lobby of the old movie palace gleams in the afternoon sun, no light gets in through the roof.
—Laura L. Davis, Nashville Tennessean, 9 Nov. 2025
Izzy Baskette, PEOPLE, 12 Dec. 2025
Despite a couple of funky skips, the album is fueled by the hunger of an artist who really wants the pop life again, perking up electro-scuzz and arena rock with new wave that gleams like glitter.
—Pitchfork, 4 Dec. 2025
The mother-and-daughter duo revamped almost every corner of the 7,000-square-foot home, including its exterior, which now gleams with white siding and cobalt-blue shutters.
—Paola Singer, Architectural Digest, 13 Nov. 2025
The Airstream gleams absurdly against the ocherous land below.
—Rowan Jacobsen, Harpers Magazine, 24 Oct. 2025
Patches of unintelligibility are nothing new in Pynchon, but usually a coherent world view gleams upward from the murk.
—Kathryn Schulz, New Yorker, 22 Sep. 2025
Nothing gleams as beautifully as a white kitchen.
—Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 16 Aug. 2025
Noun
In a nod to the fan base, the total attendance figure for the 2025 season (4,012,470) gleams in blue on the bottom of the ring.
—Maddie Lee, Los Angeles Times, 28 Mar. 2026
The brilliant white building gleams in all its Art Deco glory, symbolizing Miami’s political and aviation history.
—Miami Herald Archives, Miami Herald, 26 Mar. 2026
Creative fire rises as the nurturing Moon enters Aries and gleams within your 5th House of Creativity, encouraging bold self-expression in whichever way most pleases your heart.
—Tarot.com, Sun Sentinel, 19 Mar. 2026
The sun gleams from third base to Huntington.
—Steven Louis Goldstein, New York Times, 12 Mar. 2026
At last, a few gleams of paving stone showed through the murk in the lane below.
—Literary Hub, 26 Feb. 2026
Your 4th House of Traditions gleams under today’s Full Moon, so private needs are potentially straining against public duties.
—Tarot.com, New York Daily News, 3 Jan. 2026
His new wife, Nina (Brittany Snow), an art dealer who is also Madison’s former assistant, gleams with insecurity.
—Doreen St. Félix, New Yorker, 6 Dec. 2025
Today, while the lobby of the old movie palace gleams in the afternoon sun, no light gets in through the roof.
—Laura L. Davis, Nashville Tennessean, 9 Nov. 2025
Verb
Like Beckham’s dress, the 100-percent silk dress softly gleams in the light.
—Izzy Baskette, PEOPLE, 12 Dec. 2025
Despite a couple of funky skips, the album is fueled by the hunger of an artist who really wants the pop life again, perking up electro-scuzz and arena rock with new wave that gleams like glitter.
—Pitchfork, 4 Dec. 2025
The mother-and-daughter duo revamped almost every corner of the 7,000-square-foot home, including its exterior, which now gleams with white siding and cobalt-blue shutters.
—Paola Singer, Architectural Digest, 13 Nov. 2025
The Airstream gleams absurdly against the ocherous land below.
—Rowan Jacobsen, Harpers Magazine, 24 Oct. 2025
Patches of unintelligibility are nothing new in Pynchon, but usually a coherent world view gleams upward from the murk.
—Kathryn Schulz, New Yorker, 22 Sep. 2025
Nothing gleams as beautifully as a white kitchen.
—Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 16 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for gleams
Noun
-
These glows lasted up to three seconds, often moving from leaf to leaf.—
Laura Baisas,
Popular Science,
25 Feb. 2026
-
Inside, a long mahogany counter glows beneath warm gold walls, where bartenders move with precision through a selection of classics and inventive cocktails built on bold spirits and house infusions.—
Melinda Sheckells,
HollywoodReporter,
13 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Soft breezes ripple through the sea grapes, and sunlight glints off the aquamarine shallows that surround Bahia Honda State Park.—
Carrie Honaker,
Travel + Leisure,
7 Dec. 2025
Noun
-
Since it was released at the end of 2023, the hulking, angular vehicle has been subject to jokes about its appearance and glares from people who disagree with CEO Elon Musk’s politics.—
Andrea Guzmán,
Austin American Statesman,
14 Jan. 2026
-
Saab recommends combining overhead lighting with wall sconces and table lamps to lend more flexibility while also avoiding harsh glares.—
Patricia Shannon,
Southern Living,
31 Dec. 2025
Verb
-
The glass shatters with a spray that shimmers in the lantern light.—
Danielle Parker,
CBS News,
27 Feb. 2026
-
Leo July 23 – August 22 Your horizon shimmers with practical promise.—
Tarot.com,
Hartford Courant,
20 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
The changes at the intersection will mean the addition of two signs that will have flashing lights triggered by people or traffic at the crossing roads.—
Alan Gionet,
CBS News,
25 Mar. 2026
-
Airport security camera video shows a convoy of emergency vehicles traveling across the tarmac with their lights flashing in the moments before the plane lands, according to a recording of the video shared online.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
24 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Little details are where Le Petit Hôtel shines.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
28 Mar. 2026
-
Kaplan has commanding, comical moments throughout the play but shines in one of the play’s most memorable.—
Michelle F. Solomon,
Miami Herald,
26 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
For a steak that glistens, brush on some vegetable glycerin.—
Jesse Szewczyk,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
15 Mar. 2026
-
Keep it cute and simple with a purple manicure that glistens.—
Daisy Maldonado,
InStyle,
5 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
An hour goes by, and then, through a slit in the curtains, Miley Cyrus flashes a smile and tips her oversize black sunglasses.—
Ethan Shanfeld,
Variety,
18 Mar. 2026
-
After following the characters from high school to college, the series flashes forward five years for the finale with one final gut-punch.—
Will Harris,
Entertainment Weekly,
10 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Gleams.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/gleams. Accessed 30 Mar. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
