glanced; glancing
1
a
: to take a quick look at something
glanced at his watch
b
of the eyes
: to move swiftly from one thing to another
2
: to strike a surface obliquely so as to go off at an angle
The bullet glanced off the wall.
3
a
: to make sudden quick movements
dragonflies glancing over the pond
b
: to flash or gleam with quick intermittent rays of light
brooks glancing in the sun
4
: to touch on a subject or refer to it briefly or indirectly
The work glances at the customs of ancient cultures.
1
: to give an oblique path of direction to:
a
: to throw or shoot so that the object deflects from a surface
b
archaic
: to aim (something, such as an innuendo) indirectly : insinuate
2
archaic
a
: to take a quick look at
b
: to catch a glimpse of
glancer
noun
1
a
: a quick or cursory look
was good at sizing people up at a glance
b
: a swift movement of the eyes
2
a
: a deflected impact or blow
b
archaic
: a rapid oblique movement
3
a
: a quick intermittent flash or gleam
b
archaic
: a sudden quick movement
Synonyms
Examples of glance in a Sentence
Verb
Glancing down, she noticed her shoe was untied.
I glanced at my watch.
He sat quietly, glancing through a magazine.
She glanced up from her book when he entered the room.
Noun
He gave me a quick glance over his shoulder.
I took a glance at the newspaper this morning.
Recent Examples on the Web
Hannah Beech Adam Ferguson, New York Times, 23 Apr. 2024
While down a man, Messi worked his magic again, curling a corner kick to his former Barcelona teammate Sergio Busquets, who leaped and sent a glancing header into the net for the game-clinching goal.
—Michelle Kaufman, Miami Herald, 20 Apr. 2024
No worries—the electronic tentacles attached to your shoulders give a wiggle, indicating that the hottie, mercifully, has glanced your way.
—Faith Hill, The Atlantic, 15 Apr. 2024
People keep glancing at him, as if this were a documentary.
—Anthony Lane, The New Yorker, 11 Apr. 2024
The song played out, almost in its entirety, for four tense minutes as Carmela and Anthony Jr. walked in, Meadow did some shaky parallel parking, Tony glanced repeatedly at the door and everyone waited for something bad to happen.
—Brandon Griggs, CNN, 3 Apr. 2024
Everybody glances toward the skies in apprehension, and as the end credit screen appears, it’s disrupted by an electronic glitch.
—Sara Netzley, EW.com, 1 Apr. 2024
Steam rises after a recent downpour and morning sunlight glances off cresting waves silver-threaded with the shoals of sardinella that ride their swell.
—Catherine Fairweather, Condé Nast Traveler, 20 Mar. 2024
With a full backing band, Fallon belted out the 1983 classic with Nancy Wilson and Ann Wilson, who weren’t wearing any protective eye glasses to glance at the eclipse.
—Larisha Paul, Rolling Stone, 9 Apr. 2024
Jamie Lang, Variety, 25 Apr. 2024
At first glance, the model takes a rather monochromatic aesthetic with a perfectly sized 38.5mm stainless steel build and complementary gray dial.
—Cait Bazemore, Robb Report, 25 Apr. 2024
There was nothing exceptional about it at first glance.
—The Enquirer, 23 Apr. 2024
At first glance, the gator doesn't appear too large next to the aircraft's enormous wheels.
—USA TODAY, 23 Apr. 2024
The concept might seem simple enough at first glance, but at least three factors make the system massively complex.
—Daniel J. Pilla, National Review, 23 Apr. 2024
At first glance, topology would seem to be a poor fit for the problem of polling site placement.
—Lyndie Chiou, WIRED, 21 Apr. 2024
Upon first glance, the Bunn Velocity Brew 10-Cup Home Coffee Brewer looks like a traditional, short-kettle coffee maker.
—Michelle Rostamian, Better Homes & Gardens, 15 Apr. 2024
Your birth chart may appear overwhelming at first glance due to the use of symbols to represent planets and signs.
—Lisa Stardust, Peoplemag, 12 Apr. 2024
Verb
Generators lit up the tent, and soldiers occasionally glanced at the sky to ensure no fighter jet was targeting the bright festivities.
—Hannah Beech Adam Ferguson, New York Times, 23 Apr. 2024
While down a man, Messi worked his magic again, curling a corner kick to his former Barcelona teammate Sergio Busquets, who leaped and sent a glancing header into the net for the game-clinching goal.
—Michelle Kaufman, Miami Herald, 20 Apr. 2024
No worries—the electronic tentacles attached to your shoulders give a wiggle, indicating that the hottie, mercifully, has glanced your way.
—Faith Hill, The Atlantic, 15 Apr. 2024
People keep glancing at him, as if this were a documentary.
—Anthony Lane, The New Yorker, 11 Apr. 2024
The song played out, almost in its entirety, for four tense minutes as Carmela and Anthony Jr. walked in, Meadow did some shaky parallel parking, Tony glanced repeatedly at the door and everyone waited for something bad to happen.
—Brandon Griggs, CNN, 3 Apr. 2024
Everybody glances toward the skies in apprehension, and as the end credit screen appears, it’s disrupted by an electronic glitch.
—Sara Netzley, EW.com, 1 Apr. 2024
Steam rises after a recent downpour and morning sunlight glances off cresting waves silver-threaded with the shoals of sardinella that ride their swell.
—Catherine Fairweather, Condé Nast Traveler, 20 Mar. 2024
With a full backing band, Fallon belted out the 1983 classic with Nancy Wilson and Ann Wilson, who weren’t wearing any protective eye glasses to glance at the eclipse.
—Larisha Paul, Rolling Stone, 9 Apr. 2024
Noun
At first glance, this year’s Annecy feature and Contrechamp competition lineups look as strong as any in recent memory.
—Jamie Lang, Variety, 25 Apr. 2024
At first glance, the model takes a rather monochromatic aesthetic with a perfectly sized 38.5mm stainless steel build and complementary gray dial.
—Cait Bazemore, Robb Report, 25 Apr. 2024
There was nothing exceptional about it at first glance.
—The Enquirer, 23 Apr. 2024
At first glance, the gator doesn't appear too large next to the aircraft's enormous wheels.
—USA TODAY, 23 Apr. 2024
The concept might seem simple enough at first glance, but at least three factors make the system massively complex.
—Daniel J. Pilla, National Review, 23 Apr. 2024
At first glance, topology would seem to be a poor fit for the problem of polling site placement.
—Lyndie Chiou, WIRED, 21 Apr. 2024
Upon first glance, the Bunn Velocity Brew 10-Cup Home Coffee Brewer looks like a traditional, short-kettle coffee maker.
—Michelle Rostamian, Better Homes & Gardens, 15 Apr. 2024
Your birth chart may appear overwhelming at first glance due to the use of symbols to represent planets and signs.
—Lisa Stardust, Peoplemag, 12 Apr. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'glance.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near glance
Cite this Entry
“Glance.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/glance. Accessed 29 Apr. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
glance
1 of 2 verb
glanced; glancing
1
: to strike and fly off at an angle
the arrow glanced off the shield
2
: to give a quick or hasty look
glanced at my watch
glanced up from a book
3
glancingly
adverb
ˈglan(t)-siŋ-lē
glance
2 of 2 noun1
: a quick flash or gleam that comes and goes
2
: an impact or blow that is turned aside
3
a
: a swift movement of the eyes
b
: a quick or hasty look
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share