glance

1 of 2

verb

ˈglan(t)s 

glanced; glancing

intransitive verb

1

a

: to take a quick look at something

glanced at his watch

b

of the eyes : to move swiftly from one thing to another

2

: to strike a surface obliquely so as to go off at an angle

The bullet glanced off the wall.

3

a

: to make sudden quick movements

dragonflies glancing over the pond

b

: to flash or gleam with quick intermittent rays of light

brooks glancing in the sun

4

: to touch on a subject or refer to it briefly or indirectly

The work glances at the customs of ancient cultures.

transitive verb

1

: to give an oblique path of direction to:

a

: to throw or shoot so that the object deflects from a surface

b

archaic : to aim (something, such as an innuendo) indirectly : insinuate

2

archaic

a

: to take a quick look at

b

: to catch a glimpse of

glancer noun

glance

2 of 2

noun

1

a

: a quick or cursory look

was good at sizing people up at a glance

b

: a swift movement of the eyes

2

a

: a deflected impact or blow

b

archaic : a rapid oblique movement

3

a

: a quick intermittent flash or gleam

b

archaic : a sudden quick movement

4

archaic

a

: a brief satirical reference to something : gibe

b

: allusion

Phrases

at first glance

: on first consideration

At first glance the subject seems harmless enough.

Synonyms

Verb

• bounce
• carom
• rebound
• ricochet
• skim
• skip

Noun

• cast
• eye
• gander
• glimpse
• look
• peek
• peep
• regard
• sight
• view

Examples of glance in a Sentence

Verb

Glancing down, she noticed her shoe was untied.

I glanced at my watch.

He sat quietly, glancing through a magazine.

She glanced up from her book when he entered the room.

Noun

He gave me a quick glance over his shoulder.

I took a glance at the newspaper this morning.

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

Vanilla investors tend to glance at the surface and move on. —Brett Owens, Forbes.com, 29 May 2025

The boys on the other team kept glancing at the clock and several were fighting tears. —Drew Ramsey, CNBC, 14 May 2025

Noun

The sneaker is the epitome of femininity in sneaker form, even at first glance. —Tiana Randall, Forbes.com, 31 May 2025

At first glance, the Thorns roster this season could be described just as accurately by who’s not on it: Christine Sinclair and Becky Sauerbrunn, who’ve retired; Sophia Wilson, who is on parental leave; and Meghan Klingenberg, who left the club last year. —Tamerra Griffin, New York Times, 30 May 2025

Word History

Etymology

Verb and Noun

Middle English glencen, glenchen

First Known Use

Verb

15th century, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 2

Noun

1503, in the meaning defined at sense 3a

Phrases Containing glance

• at a glance
• at first glance
• dart a glance/look at
• second glance
• side-glance
• steal a glance

Rhymes for glance

• chance
• dance
• hance
• hanse
• lance
• manse
• prance
• stance
• trance
• advance
• askance
• enhance

Kids Definition

glance

1 of 2 verb

ˈglan(t)s 

glanced; glancing

1

: to strike and fly off at an angle

the arrow glanced off the shield

2

: to give a quick or hasty look

glanced at my watch

glanced up from a book

3

: glint sense a

glancingly

ˈglan(t)-siŋ-lē

adverb

glance

2 of 2 noun

1

: a quick flash or gleam that comes and goes

2

: an impact or blow that is turned aside

3

a

: a swift movement of the eyes

b

: a quick or hasty look