English · Word Candidate

glimpse

/ˈɡlɪm(p)s/

Proposed by a contributor, not yet supported by evidence.

Also seen as: glimpses · glimpsing · glimpsed

Sense 1

Meaning · English

To see or view (someone, or something tangible) briefly and incompletely.

Verb

Examples

Morning!—the Vestal Mother of the Sun / Seem'st thou to be, since from thy bosom born, / (Thou that first glimpsest—like a white-stoled nun!—) / He springeth forth—Oh! thou triumphal Morn!— / His race of glory and of joy to run; […]

Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01)

Sources & notes

Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01 via kaikki.org).

Sense 2

Meaning · English

To perceive (something intangible) briefly and incompletely.

Verb

Examples

I have only begun to glimpse the magnitude of the problem.

Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01)

Sources & notes

Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01 via kaikki.org).

Sense 3

Meaning · English

Chiefly followed by of: a brief and incomplete look.

Noun

Examples

I only got a glimpse of the car, so I can tell you the colour but not the registration number.

Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01)

Sources & notes

Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01 via kaikki.org).

Sense 4

Meaning · English

A faint or imprecise idea; an inkling.

Noun

Examples

Every surmise and vaticination of the mind is entitled to a certain respect, and we learn to prefer imperfect theories, and sentences, which contain glimpses of truth, to digested systems which have no one valuable suggestion.

Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01)

Sources & notes

Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01 via kaikki.org).

Common questions

What does “glimpse” mean?

To see or view (someone, or something tangible) briefly and incompletely.

Is “glimpse” formal or informal?

No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.