1
a
: a transient appearance of subdued or partly obscured light
the gleam of dawn in the east
b(1)
: a small bright light
the gleam of a match
(2)
: glint
a gleam in his eyes
2
: a brief or faint appearance
a gleam of hope
gleamed; gleaming; gleams
1
: to shine with or as if with subdued steady light or moderate brightness
2
: to appear briefly or faintly
a light gleamed in the distance
: to cause to gleam
Synonyms
Examples of gleam in a Sentence
Noun
He saw the gleam of a flashlight in the distance.
the rich gleam of the polished wood
Verb
The sun gleamed on the water.
His eyes were gleaming with delight.
Recent Examples on the Web
Christine Clarridge, Axios, 30 Oct. 2024
The studio portrait is characterized by crisp focus, strong contrast between lights and darks, beautiful mid-tones to contour the baby’s cheek, and artful studio lighting to capture alert infant eyes and the gleam of a mother’s cuff button.
—Andrea Kaston Tange, The Conversation, 6 May 2024
Spencer Kornhaber, The Atlantic, 5 Nov. 2024
Find it on Amazon Clean Effortlessly with This High-Power Electric Mop
Achieve gleaming floors with ease using the electric mop.
—Mia Meltzer, Rolling Stone, 31 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for gleam 
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Noun
Look to the north on an island green Where the waves of Puget Sound glisten and gleam.
—Christine Clarridge, Axios, 30 Oct. 2024
The studio portrait is characterized by crisp focus, strong contrast between lights and darks, beautiful mid-tones to contour the baby’s cheek, and artful studio lighting to capture alert infant eyes and the gleam of a mother’s cuff button.
—Andrea Kaston Tange, The Conversation, 6 May 2024
Verb
He’s best associated with the gleaming, lush sound of jazz and pop in the ’70s and ’80s, as most famously heard on Michael Jackson’s albums Off the Wall, Thriller, and Bad.
—Spencer Kornhaber, The Atlantic, 5 Nov. 2024
Find it on Amazon Clean Effortlessly with This High-Power Electric Mop
Achieve gleaming floors with ease using the electric mop.
—Mia Meltzer, Rolling Stone, 31 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for gleam
Dictionary Entries Near gleam
Cite this Entry
“Gleam.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/gleam. Accessed 22 Nov. 2024.
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