glance
UK/ɡlɑːns//ɡlæns/
glance verb: to turn (one's eyes or look) at something, often briefly. Also the ellipsis of glance coal.
Verb
glance (third-person singular simple present glances, present participle glancing, simple past and past participle glanced)
- To turn (one's eyes or look) at something, often briefly.
- Deare heart forbeare to glance thine eye aſide, / What needſt thou wound with cunning when thy might / Is more then my ore-preſt defence can bide?1609, William Shakespeare, “Sonnet 139”, in Shake-speares Sonnets. […], London: By G[eorge] Eld for T[homas] T[horpe] and are to be sold by William Aspley, →OCLC, signature I, verso
- Vivian glanced a look, which would have been annihilation to any one, not a freeholder of five hundred acres.1826, [Benjamin Disraeli], “The Hall”, in Vivian Grey, volume I, London: Henry Colburn, […], →OCLC, book II, page 195
- To look briefly at (something).
- A horseman rode up as he spoke, and gave a letter. Claverhouse glanced it over, laughed scornfully, bade him tell his master to send his prisoners to Edinburgh, for there was no answer; […]1816, Jedadiah Cleishbotham [pseudonym; Walter Scott], chapter VI, in Tales of My Landlord, […], volume IV (Old Mortality), Edinburgh: […] [James Ballantyne and Co.] for William Blackwood, […]...
- To cause (light) to gleam or sparkle.
- The bink, with its usual arrangement of pewter and earthenware, which was most strictly and critically clean, glanced back the flame of the lamp merrily from one side of the apartment.1824 June, [Walter Scott], “Letter IV. The Same to the Same [Darsie Latimer to Alan Fairford].”, in Redgauntlet, […], volume I, Edinburgh: […] [James Ballantyne and Co.] for Archibald Constable and...
- To cause (something) to move obliquely.
- One morning as I lay in my bed, a ſtrong motion was ſuddenly glanced into my thoughts of going to London; I aroſe and betook me to the way, […]a. 1657, Joseph Hall, “Observations on Some Specialties of Divine Providence in the Life of Jos. Hall, Bishop of Norwich”, in The Shaking of the Olive-Tree. The Remaining Works of that Incomparable...
- [S]hould we croſs them, tho they ſhould ſee Shoals of Fiſh, or Turtle, or the like, they will purpoſely ſtrike their Harpoons and Turtle-irons aſide, or ſo glance them as to kill nothing.1697, William Dampier, “An Account of the Author’s Return out of the South Seas, to His Landing near Cape St. Lawrence, in the Isthmus of Darien: With an Occasional Description of the Moskito...
- To hit (a ball) lightly, causing it to move in another direction.
- Doncaster paid the price two minutes later when [Kevin] Doyle sent [Stephen] Hunt away down the left and his pinpoint cross was glanced in by Fletcher for his sixth goal of the season.2011 January 18, “Wolverhampton 5 – 0 Doncaster”, in BBC Sport, archived from the original on 09 Apr 2023
- To hit (a ball) with a bat held in a slanted manner; also, to play such a stroke against (the bowler).
- To communicate (something) using the eyes.
- [T]here his Eye took diſtant Aim, / And glanc'd Reſpect to that bright Dame, […]1718, Mat[thew] Prior, “Alma: Or, The Progress of the Mind”, in Poems on Several Occasions, London: […] Jacob Tonson […], and John Barber […], →OCLC, canto II, page 345
- As if there were no glowing eye i’ the world, / To glance straight inspiration to my brain, / No glorious heart to give mine twice the beats!1846, Robert Browning, “Luria. A Tragedy.”, in Poems […], new edition, volume II, London: Chapman & Hall, […], published 1849, →OCLC, page 201
- To touch (something) lightly or obliquely; to graze.
- Alone, it was the ſubiect of my Theame: / In company I often glanced it: / Still did I tell him, it was vilde and bad.c. 1594 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Comedie of Errors”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount...
- Afterwards I tooke a walke in yᵉ King’s gardens, where I observ’d that the Mall gos the whole square thereof next yᵉ wall, and bends with an angle so made as to glace [glance] yᵉ hall; the angle is of stone.1651 September 24 (Gregorian calendar), John Evelyn, “[Diary entry for 15 September 1651]”, in William Bray, editor, Memoirs, Illustrative of the Life and Writings of John Evelyn, […], 2nd edition...
- To make an incidental or passing reflection, often unfavourably, on (a topic); also, to make (an incidental or passing reflection, often unfavourable).
- I will this Night, / in ſeuerall Hands, in at his Windowes throw, / As if they came from ſeuerall Citizens, / Writings, all tending to the great opinion / That Rome holds of his Name: wherein obſcurely / Cæſars Ambition ſhall be glanced at.1599 (first performance), William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of Iulius Cæsar”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward]...
- And therefore in order to promote ſo uſeful a Work, I will here take Leave to glance a few Innuendo’s, that may be of great Aſſiſtance to thoſe ſublime Spirits, who ſhall be appointed to labor in a univerſal Comment upon this wonderful Diſcourſe.1704, [Jonathan Swift], “Section X. A Tale of a Tub.”, in A Tale of a Tub. […], London: […] John Nutt, […], →OCLC, page 191
- To strike and fly off in an oblique direction; to dart aside.
- A has a little gald me I confeſſe: / And as the Ieſt did glaunce awaie from me, […]c. 1590–1592 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Taming of the Shrew”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward]...
- I am glad yet your arrow hath glanced.c. 1597 (date written), William Shakespeare, […] [T]he Merrie Wiues of Windsor. […] (First Quarto), London: […] T[homas] C[reede] for Arthur Ihonson, […], published 1602, →OCLC, [Act V, scene v]
- To hit a ball with a bat held in a slanted manner.
- Of certain juvenile fish, chiefly of the Cichlidae family: to rapidly touch the side of its parent's body, usually to feed on mucus.
- [Page 493] [G]eneral impressions of glancing frequency in Acanthochromis juveniles have suggested that the glancing off parents occurs most often in young juveniles and appears to diminish in frequency as juveniles age […] [Page 494] The unusually high variance in lagoon stage-3 juveniles was...1988 May 1, Kathryn Kavanagh, “Notes on the Frequency and Function of Glancing in Juvenile Acanthochromis (Pomacentridae)”, in Michael E. Douglas, editor, Copeia, number 2, Lawrence, Kan.: American...
- Of light, etc.: to gleam, to sparkle.
- She watched the spring sunlight glancing on the water of the pond.
- [T]hou [God] didſt call, thou didſt cry, thou didſt break my Deafneſs, thou glancedſt, thou didſt ſhine, thou chaſeſt away my Darkneſs.1678, Robert Barclay, An Apology for the True Christian Divinity, as the Same is Held Forth, and Preached, by the People, Called in Scorn, Quakers: […], 4th edition, London: […] T. Sowle, […]...
- Of a thing: to move in a way that catches light, and flash or glitter.
- In thee freſh brooks, and ſoft ſtreams glance / And all my fountains clear.1673, John Milton, “Psal[m] LXXXVII”, in Poems, &c. upon Several Occasions, London: […] Tho[mas] Dring […], →OCLC, stanza 7, page 162
- [A] driving daſhing rain, / Peal upon peal redoubling all around, / Shakes it again and faſter to the ground, / Now flaſhing wide, now glancing as in play, / Swift beyond thought the light’nings dart away; […]1781 (date written), William Cowper, “Truth”, in Poems, London: […] J[oseph] Johnson, […], published 1782, →OCLC, page 85
- Often followed by at: of the eyes or a person: to look briefly.
- She glanced at her reflection as she passed the mirror.
- The Poets eye, in a fine frenzy, rolling, doth glance / From heauen to earth, from earth to heauen.c. 1595–1596 (date written), William Shakespeare, “A Midsommer Nights Dreame”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies: Published According to the True Originall Copies (First...
- Often followed by at: of a topic: to make an incidental or passing reflection on, often unfavourably; to allude to; to hint at.
- Is’t not enough thou haſt ſuborn’d theſe women, / To accuſe this worthy man? but in foule mouth, / And in the witneſſe of his proper eare, / To call him villaine; and then to glance from him, / To th’ Duke himſelfe, to taxe him with Iniuſtice?c. 1603–1604 (date written), William Shakespeare, “Measure for Measure”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward]...
- He could never procure himself to be chosen fellow; for it was objected against him, that he had written verses, and particularly some, wherein he glanced at a certain reverend doctor famous for dulness; […]a. 1746 (date written), Jonathan Swift, “An Essay on the Fates of Clergymen”, in Thomas Sheridan, John Nichols, editors, The Works of the Rev. Jonathan Swift, […], new edition, volume V, London: […]...
- Followed by by: to pass near without coming into contact.
- Some have digged deep, yet glanced by the Royal Vein; and a Man may come unto the Pericardium, but not the Heart of Truth.c. 1670s (date written), Thomas Brown [i.e., Thomas Browne], “Sect[ion] III”, in John Jeffery, editor, Christian Morals, […], Cambridge, Cambridgeshire: […] [A]t the University-Press, for Cornelius...
- To move quickly; to dart, to shoot.
- Why is my verſe ſo barren of new pride? / So far from variation or quicke change? / Why with the time do I not glance aſide / To new found methods, and to compounds ſtrange?1609, William Shakespeare, “Sonnet 76”, in Shake-speares Sonnets. […], London: By G[eorge] Eld for T[homas] T[horpe] and are to be sold by William Aspley, →OCLC
- [D]are / They [souls] paſſe the outſide and venture ſo farre / As into the depth of the ſouls ſubſtance? / […] / If that; the object gone, away thoſe forms do glance.1642, H[enry] M[ore], “ΨΥΧΑΘΑΝΑΣΙΑ [Psychathanasia] Platonica: Or A Platonicall Poem of the Immortality of Souls, Especially Mans Soul”, in ΨΥΧΩΔΙΑ [Psychōdia] Platonica: Or A Platonicall Song of the...
Noun (1)
glance (countable and uncountable, plural glances)
- A brief or cursory look.
- Fie, fie, vnknit that thretaning vnkinde brow, / And dart not ſcornefull glances from thoſe eies, / To wound thy Lord, thy King, thy Gouernour.c. 1590–1592 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Taming of the Shrew”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward]...
- Hard to ſeeme wonne: but I was wonne my Lord / With the firſt glance; […]c. 1602 (date written), William Shakespeare, The Famous Historie of Troylus and Cresseid. […] (First Quarto), London: […] G[eorge] Eld for R[ichard] Bonian and H[enry] Walley, […], published 1609...
- A quick movement that catches light, and causes a flash or glitter; also, the flash or glitter.
- The ayre here is freſh and ſweet in the morning and towards Sunſet, but in the Sunnes perpendicular glances, wee found it hot and raging: […]1638, Tho[mas] Herbert, Some Yeares Travels Into Divers Parts of Asia and Afrique. […], 2nd edition, London: […] R[ichard] Bi[sho]p for Iacob Blome and Richard Bishop, →OCLC, book II, page 193
- [E]ach Creek & Bay / With Frie innumerable ſwarme, and Shoales / Of Fiſh that with thir Finns and ſhining Scales / Glide under the green Wave, […] ſporting with quick glance / Show to the Sun thir wav’d coats dropt with Gold, […]1667, John Milton, “Book VII”, in Paradise Lost. […], London: […] [Samuel Simmons], and are to be sold by Peter Parker […]; [a]nd by Robert Boulter […]; [a]nd Matthias Walker, […], →OCLC; republished...
- A stroke in which the ball is hit with a bat held in a slanted manner.
- Of certain juvenile fish, chiefly of the Cichlidae family: an act of rapidly touching the side of its parent's body, usually to feed on mucus.
- An act of striking and flying off in an oblique direction; a deflection.
- An incidental or passing allusion or thought, often unfavourable, expressed on a topic.
- [W]hen Marcus Philoſophus came in, Sylenus was grauelled, and out of countenance, not knowing where to carpe at him, ſaue at the laſt, he gaue a glaunce at his patience towards his wife.1605, Francis Bacon, “The First Booke”, in The Twoo Bookes of Francis Bacon. Of the Proficience and Aduancement of Learning, Diuine and Humane, London: […] [Thomas Purfoot and Thomas Creede] for...
- [A]lbeit in that brief diſcourſe I made concerning the Red ſea and Carmania where I made mention of the Burial-place of Erythreus there are ſome glances at it; I ſhall nevertheleſs (as in the moſt proper place) ſpeak a little further upon that ſubject.1677, Tho[mas] Herbert, Some Yeares Travels into Divers Parts of Africa, and Asia the Great. […], 4th edition, London: […] R. Everingham, for R. Scot, T. Basset, J[ohn] Wright, and R. Chiswell...
Noun (2)
glance (countable and uncountable, plural glances)
- Any of various sulphides, mostly dark-coloured, which have a brilliant metallic lustre.
- copper glance silver glance
- The Oxides, Pyrites, Glances, and Blendes, might be so termed; thus we should have Tungstic Iron Oxide (usually called Tungstate of Iron), Arsenical Iron Pyrites (Mispickel), Tetrahedral Copper Glance (Fahlerz), Quicksilver Blende (Cinnabar), and the Metals might be termed native, as Native Copper...1840, William Whewell, “Aphorisms Concerning Science. Aphorism XVII.”, in The Philosophy of the Inductive Sciences, Founded upon Their History. […], volume I, London: John W[illiam] Parker, […]...
Also used as
glance is also the ellipsis of glance coal.
glance meaning in Thai
glance in Thai
- to look briefly at (something)
- ชำเลือง cham-lʉʉang, เหลือบ lʉ̀ʉap
Examples of glance in a sentence
- [T]hey rush upon him, and he narrowly escapes killing or ducking, for having ventured to glance a censure at the General.1825, Thomas Carlyle, “Part III. From His Settlement at Jena to His Death (1790–1805).”, in The Life of Friedrich Schiller. […], London...
- But the object of this violence was so ready to defend himself by striking upon the assailant's hand, that the blow only glanced on the bone, and scarce drew blood.1828 May 15, [Walter Scott], chapter II, in Chronicles of the Canongate. Second Series. […] (The Fair Maid of Perth), volume I, Edinburgh...
- I started—I dropped the glass—the fluid flamed and glanced along the floor, while I felt Cornelius’s gripe at my throat, as he shrieked aloud, “Wretch! you have destroyed the labour of my life!”1833 December, Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley, “The Mortal Immortal”, in Charles Gibbon, editor, The Casquet of Literature: […], volume III...
- From art, from nature, from the schools, / Let random influences glance, / Like light in many a shiver’d lance, / That breaks about the dappled pools: […]1850, [Alfred, Lord Tennyson], “Canto XLVIII”, in In Memoriam, London: Edward Moxon, […], →OCLC, page 71:
Synonyms of glance
Forms of glance
| Verb | |
|---|---|
| third-person singular present | glances |
| present participle | glancing |
| past participle | glanced |
| past | glanced |
| alternative form | glaunce |
| second-person singular present (archaic) | glancest |
| second-person singular past (archaic) | glancedst |
| third-person singular present (archaic) | glanceth |
| Noun | |
| plural | glances |
Origin of glance
The verb is derived from Late Middle English glenchen (“of a blow: to strike obliquely, glance; of a person: to turn quickly aside, dodge”) [and other forms], a blend of: * Old French glacier, glachier, glaichier (“to slide; to slip”) (whence also Middle English glacen (“of a blow: to strike obliquely, glance; to glide”)), from glace (“frozen water, ice”) (from Vulgar Latin *glacia, from Latin glaciēs (“ice”), of uncertain origin, + -ier (suffix forming infinitives of first-conjugation verbs); and * Old French guenchir, ganchir (“to avoid; to change direction; to elude, evade”) [and other forms], from Proto-West Germanic *wankijan (“to move aside; to stagger, sway; to wave”), ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *weng- (“to bend”). The noun is derived from the verb. The sense "to look briefly (at something)" is probably due to partial conflation with Middle English glenten (“to look askance”)—the ancestor of English glint—in the Middle English period. This conflation may also have reinforced the medial -n-. See English glint
From Late Middle English glaunce (compare glaunce-ore (“type of ore; lead ore used for glazing pottery (?)”)), borrowed from Middle High German glanz (“(adjective) gleaming, glittering, sparkling; (noun) a gleam, glitter, sparkle”), from Old High German glanz (“bright”, adjective), ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *gʰlend-.
Words formed from glance
- foreglance
- glanceability
- glanceable
- glance away
- glance off
- glance over
- glancer
- glancing
- glancingly
- overglance
- upglance
- at a glance
- at first glance
- eyeglance
- glanceful
- glanceless
- leg glance
- sideglance
- steal a glance
- wood glance
- antimony glance
- bismuth glance
- coal glance
- cobalt glance
- copper glance
- iron glance
- lead glance
- molybdenum glance
- nickel glance
- silver glance
Phrases with glance
Words that rhyme with glance
Questions about glance
- What does glance mean?
- Glance means to turn (one's eyes or look) at something, often briefly.
- What is glance in Thai?
- Glance in Thai is ชำเลือง (cham-lʉʉang), เหลือบ (lʉ̀ʉap). See Glance meaning in Thai.
- How do you use glance in a sentence?
- [T]hey rush upon him, and he narrowly escapes killing or ducking, for having ventured to glance a censure at the General.
- What part of speech is glance?
- Glance can be a verb or a noun.
- How do you pronounce glance?
- Glance is pronounced /ɡlɑːns/ (UK).
- What is the past tense of glance?
- The past tense of glance is glanced.
Words near glance in the dictionary
Source and license
Adapted from Wiktionary: glance (page history and authors). Text available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 license. Word.ws reformatted the entry and added links. Wiktionary data of 2026-09-02.
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Pronunciation audio from Wikimedia Commons, each file under its own free license: En-us-glance.ogg, En-au-glance.ogg.
Cite this entry: “glance.” Word.ws, https://word.ws/glance. Based on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.