glimmer

UK: /ˈglɪmə^r/ US: /ˈglɪmɚ/ ,(glim′ər)

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025

glim•mer /ˈglɪmɚ/   n. [countable]

1. a faint or unsteady light;
   gleam:
   saw a glimmer in the woods.
2. a dim or faint perception;
   inkling:
   a glimmer of hope.

v. [no object]

3. to shine faintly or unsteadily;
   twinkle:
   The lights glimmered in the distance.

glim•mer•ing, n. 

[countable] faint glimmerings of hope.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

glim•mer  (glim′ər), n. 

1. a faint or unsteady light;
   gleam.
2. a dim perception;
   inkling.

v.i. 

3. to shine faintly or unsteadily;
   twinkle, shimmer, or flicker.
4. to appear faintly or dimly.

• 1300–50; Middle English glimeren to gleam; cognate with German glimmern; compare Old English gleomu splendor

Synonyms

• 1. See gleam. 

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

glimmer / ˈɡlɪmə/ verb (intransitive)

1. (of a light, candle, etc) to glow faintly or flickeringly
2. to be indicated faintly: hope glimmered in his face

noun

1. a glow or twinkle of light
2. a faint indication

Etymology: 14th Century: compare Middle High German glimmern, Swedish glimra, Danish glimre