Synonyms

glancing

American

[glan-sing, glahn-] / ˈglæn sɪŋ, ˈglɑn- /

adjective

striking obliquely and bouncing off at an angle.

a glancing blow.
brief and indirect.

glancing references to his dubious past.

Other Word Forms

glancingly adverb

Etymology

Origin of glancing

First recorded in 1485–95; glance ¹ + -ing ²

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

However, the Met Office Space Weather Prediction Centre suggests there is a low chance of a "glancing blow" of energy on Tuesday night where the aurora could reappear in northern Scotland.

From BBC • Mar. 24, 2026

Lucca's glancing header from Omari Hutchinson's cross showed the cutting edge that Forest lacked for the previous 85 minutes.

From Barron's • Feb. 6, 2026

So if, like with Dalot and Sarr, the full boot makes contact with the leg but it comes off quickly that would be considered glancing.

From BBC • Jan. 19, 2026

“I don’t understand,” they say, glancing down at their EBT card.

From Salon • Jan. 3, 2026

He kept glancing behind him, so that even Clara craned her neck to see what he’d been running from.

From "Night Owls" by A.R. Vishny

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023