glanced; glancing
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.
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
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
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
Rocco Parascandola, New York Daily News, 12 June 2025
Every so often, though, those respondents sitting in the courtroom’s pews glanced out the door.
—Ryan Oehrli, Charlotte Observer, 12 June 2025
Glenn Llopis, Forbes.com, 25 June 2025
How Durant will fit in Houston At first glance, Durant looks like a hand-in-glove fit for a team that struggled offensively at times last season, especially in the halfcourt — deficiencies that were exposed by a veteran Warriors team in the first round of the playoffs.
—Kelly Iko, New York Times, 22 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for glance
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Verb
Williams, looking scruffy in tan prison scrubs, was impassive throughout the proceedings — glancing back at his family only once before being led away.
—Rocco Parascandola, New York Daily News, 12 June 2025
Every so often, though, those respondents sitting in the courtroom’s pews glanced out the door.
—Ryan Oehrli, Charlotte Observer, 12 June 2025
Noun
At first glance, this approach may seem both logical and inevitable in a world increasingly shaped by generative AI and automation.
—Glenn Llopis, Forbes.com, 25 June 2025
How Durant will fit in Houston At first glance, Durant looks like a hand-in-glove fit for a team that struggled offensively at times last season, especially in the halfcourt — deficiencies that were exposed by a veteran Warriors team in the first round of the playoffs.
—Kelly Iko, New York Times, 22 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for glance
Cite this Entry
“Glance.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/glance. Accessed 29 Jun. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
glance
1 of 2 verb
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
glancingly
adverb
ˈglan(t)-siŋ-lē
glance
2 of 2 noun1
: 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
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