glimmer

[ glim-er ]

noun

1. a faint or unsteady light; gleam.
2. a dim perception; inkling.

verb (used without object)

1. to shine faintly or unsteadily; twinkle, shimmer, or flicker.
2. to appear faintly or dimly.

glimmer

/ ˈɡlɪmə /

verb

1. (of a light, candle, etc) to glow faintly or flickeringly
2. to be indicated faintly

   hope glimmered in his face

noun

1. a glow or twinkle of light
2. a faint indication

Derived Forms

• ˈglimmeringly, adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of glimmer¹

1300–50; Middle English glimeren “to gleam”; cognate with German glimmern; compare Old English gleomu “splendor”

Word History and Origins

Origin of glimmer¹

C14: compare Middle High German glimmern, Swedish glimra, Danish glimre

Synonym Study

See gleam.

Example Sentences

“No matter what you believe or don’t believe, I think it’s important that people feel like there’s a glimmer of hope,” he says.

From Los Angeles Times

But even in the thick of it, there’s this weird glimmer of hope I can’t shake.

From Salon

“Speak to your friends,” I pleaded, sensing a glimmer of hope.

From BBC

Harris’s glimmers of senatorial interest in scaling back military largesse faded into standard bellicosity.

From Salon

Kaplan finds a glimmer of optimism in an uncertain time: an A-list actor who wants to make his show.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• flicker
• gleam
• glint
• glow
• hint
• inkling
• ray
• twinkle