glisten
1 of 2verb
intransitive verb
glisten
2 of 2noun
Synonyms
Verb
- coruscate
- flame
- flash
- glance
- gleam
- glimmer
- glint
- glister
- glitter
- luster
- lustre
- scintillate
- shimmer
- spangle
- sparkle
- twinkle
- wink
- winkle
Example Sentences
Rachel Cormack, Robb Report, 12 July 2022 The burger seems to glisten from all sides and surfaces. Jenn Harriscolumnist, Los Angeles Times, 27 June 2022 Log cabins dot the premise, the waters of the serene lake glisten in the sun, the sky is a clear blue. Lovia Gyarkye, The Hollywood Reporter, 4 Aug. 2022 Her fur might be matted, and her tiny razor teeth might glisten menacingly. Elaine Godfrey, The Atlantic, 20 July 2022 Wide, beautiful live-edge slab tables glisten with new varnish. oregonlive, 15 July 2022 The fatty tops glisten, lacquered in a sweet red sauce tinged with garlic, star anise and Shaoxing wine. Los Angeles Times, 2 May 2022 Zellige tiles glisten in this small galley kitchen designed by Shapeless Studio. Hadley Mendelsohn, House Beautiful, 14 June 2022 The formula will keep you hydrated, while also providing shine to make your tats glisten in the sun. ELLE, 1 June 2022 Danyel Smith, Los Angeles Times, 24 Feb. 2022 Orb spider webs glisten in tall grassy spots on dewy mornings. Jim Gilbert, Star Tribune, 22 July 2021 But according to celebrity makeup artist Lisa Aharon-who works with actresses Zosia Mamet and Rachel Brosnahan-glittery, glisten-y formulas are the ones to stay away from. Nikki Brown, PEOPLE.com, 22 June 2021 The adornment was little, but there was character in Halston’s swirling batik treatments or the aquatic glisten of an uncolored sequin paillette. Lilah Ramzi, Vogue, 14 May 2021 In the clips, dark metallic polyhedrons rotate on loop and glisten—a reference to Lemercier’s installations in the physical world. Gregory Barber, Wired, 6 Mar. 2021 Refined details began to emerge: the woman’s warm skin tone, the glisten of her jewelry, the elegance of her lace collar. Brigit Katz, Smithsonian Magazine, 11 Feb. 2020 As the shoot moved to Gaye's backyard, a light snow began to fall, lending a peaceful glisten to the singer’s black jacket. Brian Mccollum, Freep.com, 12 July 2020 Magic is everywhere — not simply in the movie's narrative but in its design: drops of water glisten and sparkle, the sun breaks through the clouds with impossibly bright slivers of light, a prism of colors in brisk pinks, purples, and blues. Maya Phillips, TheWeek, 22 Jan. 2020 See More Word History
Verb and Noun
Middle English glistnen, from Old English glisnian; akin to Old English glisian to glitter, geolu yellow — more at yellow
Verb
before the 12th century, in the meaning defined above
Noun
1840, in the meaning defined above
Kids Definition
glisten
verb
glisten 1 of 2
verb
Synonyms & Similar Words
- gleam
- glint
- shimmer
- shine
- sparkle
- glitter
- twinkle
- flash
- glimmer
- glow
- glister
- luster
- scintillate
- spangle
- glance
- coruscate
- lustre
- winkle
- flame
- wink
- dazzle
- beam
- radiate
- blind
- glare
- flare
- daze
- blaze
- bedazzle
- burn
glisten
2 of 2noun
Synonyms & Similar Words
- gleam
- glow
- shimmer
- glint
- glare
- glimmer
- sheen
- sparkle
- twinkle
- shine
- polish
- burnish
- luster
- lustre
- gloss
- blink
- flicker
- iridescence
- luminescence
- luminance
- irradiation
- illumination
- radiance
- glaze
- luminosity
- finish
- brilliance
- radiancy
- refulgence
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- dimness
- dulness
- dullness
- flatness
- drabness
- paleness
- dirtiness
- dinginess
- grayness
- gloom
- cloudiness
- somberness
- obscurity
- murkiness
- obscureness
Synonym Chooser
Some common synonyms of glisten are flash, gleam, glimmer, glint, glitter, shimmer, and sparkle. While all these words mean "to send forth light," glisten applies to the soft sparkle from a wet or oily surface.
The words flash and glisten can be used in similar contexts, but flash implies a sudden outburst of bright light.
Although the words gleam and glisten have much in common, gleam suggests a steady light seen through an obscuring medium or against a dark background.
The words glimmer and glisten are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, glimmer suggests a faint or wavering gleam.
While in some cases nearly identical to glisten, glint implies a cold glancing light.
The meanings of glitter and glisten largely overlap; however, glitter connotes a brilliant sparkling or gleaming.
While the synonyms shimmer and glisten are close in meaning, shimmer means shining with a wavering light.
The synonyms sparkle and glisten are sometimes interchangeable, but sparkle suggests innumerable moving points of bright light.