as in glow
the steady giving off of the form of radiation that makes vision possible
the door opened a crack and let in a gleam of light from the hallway
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in to glint
to shoot forth bursts of light
fine china and stemware gleaming in the candlelight
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of gleam
Raj Tawney, People.com, 15 June 2025
On opening night, the soprano’s top notes blazed out with a cool gleam, but her lower and middle registers lacked the heft needed to punch through Strauss’s dense textures.
—Alex Ross, New Yorker, 19 May 2025
Evie Carrick, Travel + Leisure, 21 June 2025
Dressed in a Versace shirt and gleaming gold chain, Shakur was still out on bond, still basking in the glow of stardom, brushing off a violent altercation with a Crip gang member inside a Sin City casino that had transpired just hours earlier after a Mike Tyson boxing match.
—Danielle Bacher, People.com, 1 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for gleam
Noun
Dad sat up tall, waving both hands around to his neighbors, that big gleam across his face.
—Raj Tawney, People.com, 15 June 2025
On opening night, the soprano’s top notes blazed out with a cool gleam, but her lower and middle registers lacked the heft needed to punch through Strauss’s dense textures.
—Alex Ross, New Yorker, 19 May 2025
Verb
In the southeast corner of Iceland, black volcanic sand gives way to the gleaming expanse of Vatnajökull, the largest glacier in Europe.
—Evie Carrick, Travel + Leisure, 21 June 2025
Dressed in a Versace shirt and gleaming gold chain, Shakur was still out on bond, still basking in the glow of stardom, brushing off a violent altercation with a Crip gang member inside a Sin City casino that had transpired just hours earlier after a Mike Tyson boxing match.
—Danielle Bacher, People.com, 1 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for gleam
Recent Examples of Synonyms for gleam
Noun
-
This facial will help restore your glow and your faith.—
Larry Stansbury,
Essence,
22 July 2025
-
Its boat ride travels through a dark and dense indoor jungle filled with glow in the dark plants.—
Caroline Reid,
Forbes.com,
21 July 2025
Verb
-
For many, Maine is a summer refuge—beaches with powdery sand and glinting grey-blue water intermingled with bucolic topography; mountains, lake houses.—
Caroline Reilly,
Robb Report,
6 June 2025
-
Sunlight glints off the water with a Mediterranean shimmer.—
Alexandra Gillespie,
AFAR Media,
23 June 2025
Noun
-
There wasn’t any glare to speak of, either, and mind you, our lab's overhead LEDs did try and create some.—
PC Magazine,
PC Magazine,
13 July 2025
-
Despite the glare on the windows and the people in the bar, the crowd attempted to take photos of Urban playing inside.—
Kirsten Fiscus,
The Tennessean,
2 July 2025
Verb
-
Emotions like doubt or frustration may flash across the face in a split second.—
Dr. Diane Hamilton,
Forbes.com,
16 July 2025
-
Cameras flash as Combs addresses the crowd, presiding over the scene like a master of ceremonies — or something else entirely.—
Kevin Dolak,
HollywoodReporter,
15 July 2025
Noun
-
In light of a new deal not coming back, McLaurin remains away from the Commanders.—
Kevin McCormick,
MSNBC Newsweek,
24 July 2025
-
In light of the creativity necessary amid Miami’s ongoing pursuit of Argentina midfielder Rodrigo De Paul, Garber stressed that from the owners’ perspective, these limits aren’t designed to stifle competition.—
Jeff Rueter,
New York Times,
24 July 2025
Verb
-
The lake shimmers below, and on clear mornings, the snowcapped head of Monte Rosa peeks out above.—
Ann Abel,
Forbes.com,
21 July 2025
-
The stage shimmered; Quincy’s name reverberated as the lineup rolled out: Tyrese, Robin Thicke, Al B. Sure!, SWV, Xscape, MC Lyte, The Pharcyde, and Mobb Deep — all artists whose sounds echo Jones’s genius.—
Kathleen Newman-Bremang,
refinery29.com,
8 July 2025
Verb
-
There’s even a rare deal on SodaStream sparkling water maker, which allows club soda fans to make their own fizzy water at home instead of barreling through wasteful cans and plastic bottles.—
Clara McMahon,
People.com,
26 July 2025
-
Between adding grated lemon zest to the breading mix and folding lemon into the dressing, cookbook author Jessica Merchant riffs on Caesar salad in a way that sparkles with citrus brightness.—
Kate Bradshaw,
Mercury News,
25 July 2025
Verb
-
The 'Ghost Bush' open star cluster is also visible to the upper right of the Fireworks galaxy, twinkling with the light of countless gravitationally bound stellar bodies.—
Anthony Wood,
Space.com,
16 July 2025
-
After dinner, guests can gather around the crackling fire and enjoy time under the twinkling stars.—
Charlotte Observer,
Charlotte Observer,
11 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Gleam.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/gleam. Accessed 29 Jul. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share