glitter

1 of 2

verb

glit·​ter ˈgli-tər How to pronounce glitter (audio)
glittered; glittering; glitters
Synonyms of glitternext

intransitive verb

1
a
: to shine by reflection with many small flashes of brilliant light : sparkle
sequins glittered in the spotlight
b
: to shine with strong emotion : flash
eyes glittering in anger
2
: to be brilliantly attractive, lavish, or spectacular
also : to be superficially attractive or exciting

glitter

2 of 2

noun

1
a
: sparkling brilliance of something that glitters
b
: a bright usually superficial attractiveness
c
: the quality of being spectacular
2
: small glittering objects used for ornamentation
glittery
ˈgli-tə-rē How to pronounce glitter (audio)
adjective

Synonyms

Verb

See All Synonyms & Antonyms in Thesaurus
Choose the Right Synonym for glitter

flash, gleam, glint, sparkle, glitter, glisten, glimmer, shimmer mean to send forth light.

flash implies a sudden outburst of bright light.

lightning flashed

gleam suggests a steady light seen through an obscuring medium or against a dark background.

lights gleamed in the valley

glint implies a cold glancing light.

glinting steel

sparkle suggests innumerable moving points of bright light.

the sparkling waters

glitter connotes a brilliant sparkling or gleaming.

glittering diamonds

glisten applies to the soft sparkle from a wet or oily surface.

glistening wet sidewalk

glimmer suggests a faint or wavering gleam.

a distant glimmering light

shimmer means shining with a wavering light.

a shimmering satin dress

Examples of glitter in a Sentence

Verb The sequins on her dress glittered in the sun. Her eyes glittered with intelligence and amusement. Noun He was drawn to the glitter of the city's nightlife.
Recent Examples on the Web
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.
Verb
Sunnfjord: Nestled among steep mountains and glittering fjords, Sunnfjord’s highlights include the spectacular Storehesten, a peak formed during the final collapse of the Caledonian mountain range. — David Nikel, Forbes.com, 12 June 2025 Only 200,000 showed up to the parade early in the day, with numbers peaking later in the evening, when around 800,000 were present for the glittering fireworks display. — Callum Sutherland, Time, 11 June 2025
Noun
With black cats and skeleton iconography sprinkled throughout, this collection is a spiritual successor to last year’s astrology craze, only with more glitter. — Elizabeth Fogarty, Better Homes & Gardens, 13 June 2025 And that's mostly due to White's bold flair — and love for a little glitter! — Michelle Lee, People.com, 4 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for glitter

Word History

Etymology

Verb

Middle English gliteren, perhaps from Old Norse glitra; akin to Old English geolu yellow

First Known Use

Verb

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Noun

1593, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of glitter was in the 14th century

Phrases Containing glitter

Rhymes for glitter

See All Rhymes for glitter

Browse Nearby Words

glitch
glitter
glitterance
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Glitter.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/glitter. Accessed 16 Jun. 2025.

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Kids Definition

glitter

1 of 2 verb
glit·​ter ˈglit-ər How to pronounce glitter (audio)
1
: to shine with brilliant or metallic luster
glittering sequins
2
: to shine with strong emotion
eyes glittered cruelly

glitter

2 of 2 noun
1
: sparkling brilliancy
2
: small glittering objects used for ornamentation
glittery
ˈglit-ə-rē How to pronounce glitter (audio)
adjective

More from Merriam-Webster on glitter

Nglish: Translation of glitter for Spanish Speakers

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