intransitive verb

: to give off a sparkling or lustrous reflection of or as if of a moist or polished surface

glisten

2 of 2

noun

Choose the Right Synonym for glisten

flash, gleam, glint, sparkle, glitter, glisten, glimmer, shimmer mean to send forth light.

flash implies a sudden outburst of bright light.

lightning flashed

gleam suggests a steady light seen through an obscuring medium or against a dark background.

lights gleamed in the valley

glint implies a cold glancing light.

glinting steel

sparkle suggests innumerable moving points of bright light.

the sparkling waters

glitter connotes a brilliant sparkling or gleaming.

glittering diamonds

glisten applies to the soft sparkle from a wet or oily surface.

glistening wet sidewalk

glimmer suggests a faint or wavering gleam.

a distant glimmering light

shimmer means shining with a wavering light.

a shimmering satin dress

Examples of glisten in a Sentence

Verb Rain made the streets glisten. The streets glistened in the rain. Her eyes glistened with tears. a long beach of glistening sand
Recent Examples on the Web
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.
Verb
Some have glistening fruits that look candied, and a lot of them are a collection of small chunks of fruit in a spicy-sweet syrup. Elizabeth Karmel, Forbes, 19 Dec. 2024 Kitchen tables across the Las Vegas Valley will be glistening with gold Zambonis overflowing with gravy this Thanksgiving. Jesse Granger, The Athletic, 25 Nov. 2024
Noun
Look to the north on an island green Where the waves of Puget Sound glisten and gleam. Christine Clarridge, Axios, 30 Oct. 2024 Loading your audio article There was a glisten in her eyes. Susan Mathison, Hartford Courant, 23 Feb. 2024 See all Example Sentences for glisten 

Word History

Etymology

Verb and Noun

Middle English glistnen, from Old English glisnian; akin to Old English glisian to glitter, geolu yellow — more at yellow

First Known Use

Verb

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined above

Noun

1840, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of glisten was before the 12th century

Dictionary Entries Near glisten

Cite this Entry

“Glisten.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/glisten. Accessed 29 Dec. 2024.

Kids Definition

glisten

verb
glis·​ten
ˈglis-ᵊn
glistened; glistening
ˈglis-niŋ,
-ᵊn-iŋ
: to shine by reflection with a soft luster or sparkle
glisten noun

More from Merriam-Webster on glisten

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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