glimmer

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glimmer

/ˈɡlɪməː/ Australia, UK
[ˈɡlɪməː] Australia, UK
/ˈɡlɪmɚ/ US
[ˈɡlɪmɚ] ~ [ˈɡlɪmɹ̩] US

Rhymes with -ɪmə(ɹ)

Where it comes from

From Middle English glimeren, glemeren (“to glimmer”), equivalent to glim (“to shine”) + -er (frequentative suffix). Cognate with German Low German glimmern (“to glimmer”), German glimmern (“to glimmer”), Danish glimre (“to glimmer”), Swedish glimra (“to glimmer”). Doublet of glimpse. Sense 5 was coined in the 2020s in analogy to trigger.

noun glimmers

countable, uncountable A faint light; a dim glow. The glimmer of the fireflies was pleasant to watch.
countable, uncountable A flash of light.
Similar: flicker, shimmer, sparkle
countable, figuratively, uncountable A faint or remote possibility (as it were a flash of light). After all, Harmony Korine has no more than a glimmer of talent.
Similar: flicker, glimpse
dated, uncountable Mica.
countable, neologism, uncountable A subtle, positive micromoment that evokes feelings of joy, safety, calm, or connection.
Similar: comfort · Opposite: trigger

verb glimmers · glimmering · glimmered

intransitive To shine with a faint, unsteady light. the glimmering dawn a glimmering lamp
Similar: flicker, glimpse, shimmer, twinkle, coruscate, flash, gleam, glitter, glisten, luster, sheen, shine

Thesaurus

Closest in meaning: gleam, gleaming, flicker, shine, glimpse, glow, flash, spark, blink, chink, glare, hunch, searchlight, ray, forefront, sight

Translations

Every language

noun faint light

Español	luz tenue, titileo
Português	vislumbre
Français	lueur
Deutsch	Schimmer
Italiano	barlume, filo
Русский	мерца́ние mercánije

noun flash of light

Português	clarão

noun faint or remote possibility

Português	vislumbre
Français	lueur
Italiano	barlume
Русский	капля kaplja, проблеск problesk, искорка iskorka

verb to shine with a faint, unsteady light

Español	escintilar, cintilar, centellar, centellear
हिन्दी	टिमटिमाना ṭimṭimānā
Português	vislumbrar
Français	émettre une lueur
Deutsch	glimmern
Română	scânteia
Русский	мерца́ть mercátʹ

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Cite this

MLA

"glimmer." Wiktionary, via Micwyn, micwyn.com/word/glimmer. Accessed 6 Nov. 2026.

APA

glimmer. (n.d.). In Wiktionary, via Micwyn. Retrieved November 6, 2026, from https://micwyn.com/word/glimmer

Chicago

"glimmer." Wiktionary, via Micwyn. Accessed November 6, 2026. https://micwyn.com/word/glimmer.

BibTeX

@misc{glimmer_2026,
  title = {glimmer},
  howpublished = {Wiktionary, via Micwyn},
  year = {2026},
  url = {https://micwyn.com/word/glimmer},
  urldate = {2026-11-06}
}