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
Fran Hoepfner, Vulture, 28 Oct. 2024
Some passengers read quietly in corners, stopping to glance up at the snow sparkling on Mount Nevado Verónica, while others side-eyed a Brazilian influencer perfecting her pout for the camera.
—Monisha Rajesh, Travel + Leisure, 20 Oct. 2024
Andrey Sergeenkov, Forbes, 27 Nov. 2024
Every component has its use in basic projects, but this kit does not offer the versatility that might appear at first glance.
—Bob Beacham, Popular Science, 22 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for glance 
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Verb
DeLorenzo had all the nervous charm of Chalamet on the red carpet — glancing away, laughing a little.
—Fran Hoepfner, Vulture, 28 Oct. 2024
Some passengers read quietly in corners, stopping to glance up at the snow sparkling on Mount Nevado Verónica, while others side-eyed a Brazilian influencer perfecting her pout for the camera.
—Monisha Rajesh, Travel + Leisure, 20 Oct. 2024
Noun
For recurring events like elections or sports matches, measuring accuracy might seem possible at first glance.
—Andrey Sergeenkov, Forbes, 27 Nov. 2024
Every component has its use in basic projects, but this kit does not offer the versatility that might appear at first glance.
—Bob Beacham, Popular Science, 22 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for glance
Dictionary Entries Near glance
Cite this Entry
“Glance.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/glance. Accessed 1 Dec. 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
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