glisten

[ glis-uhn ]

verb (used without object)

1. to reflect a sparkling light or a faint intermittent glow; shine lustrously.

   Synonyms: glitter, gleam, glimmer

noun

1. a glistening; sparkle.

glisten

/ ˈɡlɪsən /

verb

1. (of a wet or glossy surface) to gleam by reflecting light

   wet leaves glisten in the sunlight

2. (of light) to reflect with brightness

   the sunlight glistens on wet leaves

noun

1. rare.
   a gleam or gloss

Derived Forms

• ˈglisteningly, adverb

Other Words From

• glisten·ing·ly adverb
• un·glisten·ing adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of glisten¹

First recorded before 1000; Middle English glis(t)nen (verb), Old English glisnian, derivative of glisian “to glitter; ” -en ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of glisten¹

Old English glisnian; related to glisian to glitter, Middle High German glistern

Synonym Study

Glisten, shimmer, sparkle refer to different ways in which light is reflected from surfaces. Glisten refers to a lustrous light, as from something sleek or wet, or it may refer to myriads of tiny gleams reflected from small surfaces: Wet fur glistens. Snow glistens in the sunlight. Shimmer refers to the changing play of light on a (generally moving) surface, as of water or silk: Moonbeams shimmer on water. Silk shimmers in a high light. To sparkle is to give off sparks or small ignited particles, or to send forth small but brilliant gleams, sometimes by reflection: A diamond sparkles with numerous points of light.

Example Sentences

Sweat glistened on his head and pooled on his undershirt.

From Los Angeles Times

A spotlight shines on two glistening bodies facing off on the wrestling mat, each scantily clad and grappling to subdue the other in a takedown.

From Los Angeles Times

The word lends a technical remove to a grisly concept unless you love food and haven’t seen the gore and entrails served up rare and glistening throughout the previous episode.

From Salon

He cut the vocals for the glistening, Michael Jackson-ish “Temptations” in “a f—ing closet” and sang “Thought You Were the One,” a silky slow jam, while on vacation in Hawaii with his mother.

From Los Angeles Times

She stopped and took a picture of a nearly 2-foot-long carp, which lay glistening by the edge of a stagnant pool.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• flicker
• gleam
• glimmer
• glint
• glitter
• glow
• shine
• sparkle
• twinkle