glimpse

glimpse — verb

1. to see someone or something for only a moment or not completely, typically when

1.verbtransitiveB2
Definition

to see someone or something for only a moment or not completely, typically when they are moving past you or you are moving past them

Example

Hana glimpsed a deer in the forest as the train rushed past.

glimpse + moving object in passing

Through the thick fog, the sailors glimpsed the outline of a lighthouse.

Common collocations
  • glimpse + face / figure / outline / light
  • only glimpse / just glimpse / briefly glimpse
Synonyms
  • spot

    suggests noticing something suddenly but not necessarily briefly; can imply more focused attention

  • catch sight of

    more informal; similar duration but often describes something unexpected

  • notice

    can refer to any kind of observation; does not carry the same brevity as glimpse

Antonyms
  • stare at

    a long, deliberate look rather than a momentary one

  • scrutinise

    to examine very carefully and in detail, opposite of a quick look

Grammar Patterns

glimpse + noun phrase

Usage Note

Frequently used with adverbs like 'only' or 'just' to emphasise how quickly the sighting happened. The object is often something moving, distant, or partially hidden.

Common Mistakes

I glimpsed at the photo.
I glimpsed the photo.
glimpse is transitive and does not take the preposition 'at'.
I glimpsed him for hours.
I glimpsed him for a second.
glimpse describes an extremely brief action, not a prolonged one.

glimpse — noun

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

A 'glimpse' is a very brief and often accidental sight of something you do not see completely — catching a glimpse of a celebrity through a car window. A 'glance' is a quick, deliberate look: you turn your head and glance at the clock. A 'look' is more general and can last any length of time, from a quick look to a long stare. 'Sight' refers to the thing you see rather than the act of seeing: the first sight of land after days at sea. Use 'glimpse' when the seeing is both short and incomplete; use 'glance' for a fast, intentional look; use 'look' as the everyday word; use 'sight' when focusing on what is seen.

glimpse ↗glance ↗look ↗sight ↗

Common collocations

Adverbs

Phrases

  • get a glimpse of
  • a brief glimpse of

Prepositions

Etymology

GermanicMiddle EnglishEnglish

The word 'glimpse' comes from Middle English 'glimsen', meaning to shine faintly or glimmer, which is related to 'glimmer'. In the 16th century the meaning shifted from the way something shines to the brief visual impression it makes on the observer, giving us both the verb 'to glimpse' and the noun 'a glimpse'.