Glimmer — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

verb noun /ˈgli-mər/ glim·mer

Meaning & Definition of Glimmer

Glimmer (verb)

  1. to shine faintly or unsteadily
  2. to give off a subdued unsteady reflection
  3. to appear indistinctly with a faintly luminous quality

Glimmer (noun)

  1. a feeble or intermittent light
  2. a subdued unsteady shining or sparkle
  3. a dim perception or faint idea, inkling

Glimmer (noun) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. a very small amount

    "a glimmer of hope that there will be snow on Christmas"

    similar: ace, bit, crumb, dab, dram, driblet, hint, lick, little, mite, nip, ounce, particle, peanuts, ray, scintilla, scruple, shade, shadow, shred, skosh, smack, smell, smidgen, snap, soupçon, spark, spatter, speck, splash, spot, sprinkling, strain, streak, suspicion, tad, touch, trace, drop in the bucket
    related: hoot, iota, jot, minim, minimum, modicum, semblance, syllable, tittle, vestige, whit, atom, dot, fleck, flyspeck, grain, granule, molecule, morsel, mote, nubbin, patch, scrap, dash, drop, pinch, part, portion, section, bite, nibble, taste, handful, scattering, smatter, smattering, dose, shot, chip, flake, fragment, shard, shiver, sliver, smithereens, splinter, tatter, clipping, paring, shaving
    near: abundance, barrel, boatload, bucket, bundle, bushel, deal, fistful, gobs, heaps, lashings (chiefly British), loads, lot, mass, mess, mountain, much, oodles, passel, peck, pile, plenty, potful, profusion, quantity, raft, reams, scads, stack, wad, wealth, volume, bonanza, embarrassment, excess, overabundance, overage, overflow, overkill, overmuch, oversupply, superabundance, superfluity, surfeit, surplus, chunk, hunk, lump, slab

  2. an almost imperceptible sign of something

    "most of the students showed not even a glimmer of interest in what I had to say"

    similar: breath, flicker, hint, suggestion, tang, touch, trace, whiff
    related: inkling, intimation, scent, wind, evidence, indication, mark, sign
    near: permeation, pervasion, saturation

Glimmer (verb) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. to shoot forth bursts of light

    "the waters of the rippling brook glimmered in the sun"

    similar: coruscate, flame, flash, glance, gleam, glint, glisten, glister, glitter, luster, scintillate, shimmer, spangle, sparkle, twinkle, wink, winkle
    related: beam, radiate, shine, bedazzle, blind, daze, dazzle, blaze, burn, flare, glare, glow

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Glimmer

The most common words with a similar meaning to Glimmer:

ace, bit, crumb, dab, dram, driblet, hint, lick, little, mite, nip, ounce, particle, peanuts, ray, scintilla, scruple, shade, shadow, shred, skosh, smack, smell, smidgen, snap, soupçon, spark, spatter, speck, splash, spot, sprinkling, strain, streak, suspicion, tad, touch, trace, breath, flicker

Related Words for Glimmer

hoot, iota, jot, minim, minimum, modicum, semblance, syllable, tittle, vestige, whit, atom, dot, fleck, flyspeck, grain, granule, molecule, morsel, mote, nubbin, patch, scrap, dash, drop, pinch, part, portion, section, bite

Near Antonyms of Glimmer

abundance, barrel, boatload, bucket, bundle, bushel, deal, fistful, gobs, heaps, lashings, loads, lot, mass, mess, mountain, much, oodles, passel, peck, pile, plenty, potful, profusion, quantity, raft, reams, scads, stack, wad

Word Forms of Glimmer

Inflections: glimmered, glimmering

Origin & Etymology of Glimmer

Middle English glimeren; akin to Old English glǣm gleam

First known use: 15th century

Words & Phrases Containing Glimmer

glimmer/ray of hope

Frequently Asked Questions about Glimmer

What does "Glimmer" mean?

"Glimmer" means to shine faintly or unsteadily. As an a verb and a noun, it is defined as: to shine faintly or unsteadily. It has 3 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Glimmer"?

Other words for "Glimmer" include ace, bit, crumb, dab, dram, driblet, hint and lick. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Glimmer" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Glimmer"?

There are 131 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Glimmer". Common alternatives include ace, bit, crumb, dab, dram, driblet, hint, lick, little and mite.

How do you use "Glimmer" in a sentence?

Examples of "Glimmer" in a sentence: "a glimmer of hope that there will be snow on Christmas"; "most of the students showed not even a glimmer of interest in what I had to say"; "the waters of the rippling brook glimmered in the sun".

Is "Glimmer" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Glimmer" can be used as a verb and a noun, depending on the context.

How do you pronounce "Glimmer"?

"Glimmer" is pronounced /ˈgli-mər/ and divided into syllables as glim·mer.

What is the origin of the word "Glimmer"?

"Glimmer" comes from Middle English glimeren; akin to Old English glǣm gleam. First known use: 15th century.

What is another word for "Glimmer" meaning "a very small amount"?

When "Glimmer" (noun) means a very small amount, synonyms include ace, bit, crumb, dab, dram and driblet.