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
Raven Brunner, People.com, 19 Feb. 2025
The man came into the bedroom, buttoning his jeans, and glanced quickly at his mother.
—Samanta Schweblin, The New Yorker, 26 Jan. 2025
Alex Ross, The New Yorker, 24 Feb. 2025
When meeting with a team member, resist the urge to check emails or glance at your phone.
—William Arruda, Forbes, 24 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for glance
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Verb
During the encounter, the bride glanced over to the guests with a suspicious looks on their faces.
—Raven Brunner, People.com, 19 Feb. 2025
The man came into the bedroom, buttoning his jeans, and glanced quickly at his mother.
—Samanta Schweblin, The New Yorker, 26 Jan. 2025
Noun
The remainder of the classical world appears, at first glance, relatively unaffected.
—Alex Ross, The New Yorker, 24 Feb. 2025
When meeting with a team member, resist the urge to check emails or glance at your phone.
—William Arruda, Forbes, 24 Feb. 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 3 Mar. 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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