glare

¹

[ glair ]

noun

1. a very harsh, bright, dazzling light:

   in the glare of sunlight.

   Synonyms: flash, glitter, flare

2. a fiercely or angrily piercing stare.
3. dazzling or showy appearance; showiness.

verb (used without object)

, glared, glar·ing.

1. to shine with or reflect a very harsh, bright, dazzling light.
2. to stare with a fiercely or angrily piercing look.
3. Archaic. to appear conspicuous; stand out obtrusively.

verb (used with object)

, glared, glar·ing.

1. to express with a glare:

   They glared their anger at each other.

glare

²

[ glair ]

noun

1. a bright, smooth surface, as of ice.

glare

¹

/ ɡlɛə /

verb

1. intr to stare angrily; glower
2. tr to express by glowering
3. intr (of light, colour, etc) to be very bright and intense
4. intr to be dazzlingly ornamented or garish

noun

1. an angry stare
2. a dazzling light or brilliance
3. garish ornamentation or appearance; gaudiness

glare

²

/ ɡlɛə /

adjective

1. smooth and glassy

   glare ice

Derived Forms

• ˈglareless, adjective
• ˈglary, adjective

Other Words From

• glareless adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of glare¹

First recorded in 1250–1300; (for the verb) Middle English glaren; cognate with Middle Dutch, Middle Low German glaren; akin to glass (compare Old English glæren “glassy”); noun derivative of the verb

Origin of glare²

First recorded in 1560–70; special use of glare ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of glare¹

C13: probably from Middle Low German, Middle Dutch glaren to gleam; probably related to Old English glæren glassy; see glass

Origin of glare²

C16: special use of glare ¹

Synonym Study

See shine ¹. Glare, glower, gloat all have connotations of emotion that accompany an intense gaze. To glare is to look piercingly or angrily: A tiger glares at its prey. To glower is to look fiercely and threateningly, as from wrath; it suggests a scowl along with a glare: to glower at a mischievous child. To gloat meant originally to look with exultation, avaricious or malignant, on something or someone: a tyrant gloating over the helplessness of his victim. Today, however, it may simply imply inner exultation.

Example Sentences

Now, it’s a glaring need with few obvious potential solutions.

From Los Angeles Times

Huge segments of American voters, some concerned about immigration and the rising cost of living, preferred Trump, with all his glaring flaws and demonstrated incompetence, to a more qualified woman of color.

From Los Angeles Times

The modified vehicle will also monitor weather conditions and ambient light to help build a complete picture of the circumstances most likely to lead to headlight glare.

From BBC

An early, short-lived marriage to Frank Sinatra thrust her into the glaring spotlight, and then “Rosemary’s Baby” turned her into a bona fide movie star.

From Los Angeles Times

The mid-day sun felt summer hot, and there was little movement despite a dense line of town houses that were either glaring white or oddly dark; the effect was like a mouth with missing teeth.

From Salon

Related Words

• frown
• gape
• gawk
• glower
• scowl
• stare