Glinted
/ˈɡlɪntɪd/
verbB2past tense
Definition
Glinted describes a quick, small flash of light that comes from a shiny surface. It usually happens when light hits something smooth or bright and reflects in a sharp, brief way. The word often shows a sudden sparkle or shine that lasts only a moment.
Was this helpful?
See It in Action
To produce a small, quick flash of light by reflection
- •The sun glinted off the surface of the lake.
- •Her diamond ring glinted in the sunlight.
- •The knife glinted briefly as he moved it.
To show a quick expression or feeling in someone's eyes
- •A mischievous glint appeared in his eyes.
- •She spoke with a glint of humor in her voice.
Make It Stick
- ✓Think of "glinted" like "shined," but much quicker and smaller—like a tiny flash instead of a steady light
- ✓Picture sunlight hitting a small piece of glass or a diamond, creating a sharp, short sparkle in your eyes
- ✓It's the feeling when you see a quick sparkle that catches your attention for just a second
- ✓Sounds like "GLINT-ed" → imagine a small glint (flash) of light jumping or flickering suddenly
- ✓In stories, glints often show something shiny or secret, like a sword or a jewel catching light unexpectedly
- ✓NOT like "glow" (which is steady and soft light), "glinted" is a fast, sharp flash of reflected light
- ✓NOT like "shine" (which can be steady and strong), "glinted" is brief and quick, like a sparkle
- ✓NOT like "flash" (which is very bright and sudden), "glinted" is smaller and usually less bright
Try Other Words
- •Shimmered: to shine with a soft, moving light (Use when the light moves gently and lasts longer)
- •Sparkled: to shine brightly with many small flashes (Use when light is strong and continuous)
- •Flashed: to shine suddenly and brightly (Use when light is very bright and quick)
- •Reflected: to throw back light from a surface (Use when focusing on the action of light bouncing off)
Unboxing
- •Word parts: root "glint" + past tense suffix "-ed"
- •Etymology: From Middle English "glinten," related to Old Norse "glitra," meaning to shine or glitter
- •Historical development: Used since the 1500s to describe small flashes of light reflecting from surfaces
- •Modern usage: Commonly used in literature and everyday speech to describe brief, sharp flashes of light or quick expressions in eyes or voice
Reflect & Connect
•When you see something glint, what kind of object or moment do you imagine? Why does that moment stand out?
•How can the idea of a glint help you describe feelings or small details in stories or conversations?
Fill in the blanks
1.The sun glinted ___ the water, making it look like it was covered in tiny stars.
2.A glint of ___ showed in her eyes when she heard the surprising news.
3.The metal glinted ___ in the light, but only for a moment before it went dull again.
4.Unlike a steady glow, the light from the diamond glinted ___ and then disappeared.
5.When he smiled, there was a glint ___ humor that made everyone laugh.
6.The knife glinted ___ as he moved it quickly across the table.
7.We could tell from the glint ___ his eyes that he was excited about the plan.