glisten

1 of 2

verb

glis·​ten ˈgli-sᵊn 

glistened; glistening ˈgli-sᵊn-iŋ 

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

: glitter, sparkle

Synonyms

Verb

• coruscate
• flame
• flash
• glance
• gleam
• glimmer
• glint
• glister
• glitter
• luster
• lustre
• scintillate
• shimmer
• spangle
• sparkle
• twinkle
• wink
• winkle

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

Verb

Cue images of celebs with glistening skin promoting their product lines, aisles upon aisles of hydrating serums, toners, and masks at Sephora, and even social media’s current obsession with Moo Deng the hippo’s dewy glow. —Melanie Rud, SELF, 11 Oct. 2024

Once a week, buff out any streaks or spatter marks for glistening views. —Mary Catherine McAnnally Scott, Southern Living, 28 Sep. 2024

Noun

Loading your audio article There was a glisten in her eyes. —Susan Mathison, Hartford Courant, 23 Feb. 2024

Two decades on, the millennial glisten has given way to organic austerity; the dominant tones are now ocher and umber, turmeric and coffee. —Martha Schwendener, New York Times, 13 Mar. 2024

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

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