sparkle

1 of 2

verb

spar·​kle ˈspär-kəl 

sparkled; sparkling ˈspär-k(ə-)liŋ 

intransitive verb

1

a

: to throw out sparks

b

: to give off or reflect bright moving points of light

c

: to perform brilliantly

2

: effervesce

wine that sparkles

3

: to become lively or animated

the dialogue sparkles with wit

eyes sparkling with anger

transitive verb

: to cause to glitter or shine

sparkle

2 of 2

noun

1

: a little spark : scintillation

2

: the quality of sparkling

3

a

: animation, liveliness

b

: the quality or state of being effervescent

Synonyms

Verb

• scintillate
• spark

Choose the Right Synonym for sparkle

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 sparkle in a Sentence

Verb

The dancers sparkled on stage.

Her eyes sparkled with pride.

Noun

The sun reflected off the water in bright sparkles of light.

He caught the sparkle of her diamond out of the corner of his eye.

a performance full of sparkle and originality

the sparkle in her eyes

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

Make cake batter: Beat cake mix, sparkling water, oil, eggs, 1 package of the pudding mix, and 1/2 teaspoon of the salt in a large bowl with an electric mixer on medium speed until light and fluffy, about 2 minutes. —Marianne Williams, Southern Living, 28 Mar. 2025

Many women’s dress watches are adorned with sparkling details on both the face and the band, making for a truly dazzling display. —Bestreviews, The Mercury News, 25 Mar. 2025

Noun

Away from the game’s heartlands in Kolkata, Kerala and the country’s north east, there is a feeling its presence is fragile, ephemeral, a sudden explosion of glitter and sparkle that may yet disappear in a puff of smoke. —Rory Smith, New York Times, 26 Mar. 2025

This story begins in the dark of a cool, serene night where various highly scented plants magically shimmer and sparkle in the lunar light. —Clarence Schmidt, San Diego Union-Tribune, 12 Mar. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Verb

Middle English, frequentative of sparken to spark

Noun

Middle English, diminutive of sparke

First Known Use

Verb

13th century, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1a

Noun

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for sparkle

• matriarchal
• patriarchal

Kids Definition

sparkle

1 of 2 verb

spar·​kle ˈspär-kəl 

sparkled; sparkling -k(ə-)liŋ 

1

a

: to throw out sparks

b

: to give off small flashes of light

the diamond sparkled

2

: to do or play very well

sparkled at shortstop

3

: effervesce sense 1

sparkling wine

4

: to become lively or active

the conversation sparkled

sparkle

2 of 2 noun

1

: a little flash of light

2

: the quality of sparkling

3

: the quality or state of being effervescent