glean

[ gleen ]

verb (used with object)

1. to gather slowly and laboriously, bit by bit.
2. to gather small amounts of (grain or the like) left behind after a harvest, nowadays often for charitable use.
3. to clear (a field, orchard, etc.) of leftover produce in this way:

   Millet’s painting The Gleaners depicts three peasant women stooping low as they glean a field of wheat.

4. to learn, discover, or find out, usually little by little or slowly.

   Synonyms: infer, extract, derive, deduce, reap, gather

verb (used without object)

1. to collect or gather anything little by little or slowly.
2. to gather what is left by reapers.

glean

/ ɡliːn /

verb

1. to gather (something) slowly and carefully in small pieces

   to glean information from the newspapers

2. to gather (the useful remnants of a crop) from the field after harvesting

Derived Forms

• ˈgleaner, noun
• ˈgleanable, adjective

Other Words From

• glean·a·ble adjective
• glean·er noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of glean¹

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English glenen, from Old French glener, from Late Latin glennāre, ultimately from Celtic

Word History and Origins

Origin of glean¹

C14: from Old French glener, from Late Latin glennāre, probably of Celtic origin

Example Sentences

“Dune: Prophecy” continues HBO’s thematic streak of examining human nature from the heights of wealth and influence, assuming its audience gleans joy from watching the rich cannibalize each other.

From Salon

With Trump's reelection, it may be hard to read or watch anything on Trump, but director Ali Abbasi’s recent feature “The Apprentice” is useful for gleaning insights about how we got to where we are.

From Salon

California’s schools, colleges and universities are girding for potentially sweeping changes under a new Trump administration, based on his starkly different vision for education gleaned from campaign pledges, the GOP platform and his past actions.

From Los Angeles Times

He tried to glean as much as he could from observation, taking special cues from Moss — “a very genius quarterback” — and his “decision-making on the field.”

From Los Angeles Times

What do you think the lesson we've been gleaning here has been about our worth in our own country?

From Salon

Related Words

• cull
• deduce
• extract
• garner
• gather
• learn
• reap
• sift