Glint is used for a quick flasha sudden, very short burst of light of light, a brief shininggiving off light; appearing bright effect, or, less commonly, a brief look. As a verb, it can also mean to shine with small flashes or a wet-looking brightnessthe quality of producing or reflecting a lot of light.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-16. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Pronunciation
AI-generated pronunciation audio (OpenAI).
Accent: General American English
IPA: /glɪnt/
Easy pronunciation: GLINT (approximate spelling).
Stress: One syllable; the whole word is stressed.
Noun meaning a momentary flash of light.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: uncertain — manual review needed. Checked: 2026-10-16. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Glint Meaning
a quick flash of light
Part of speech: noun
Definition: a momentary flash of light
Example: There was a glint of sunlight on the water.
Synonyms for this meaning:
- flicker — Close in some contexts, but often suggests repeated or unstable light rather than one brief flash.
- spark — Can fit in some contexts, especially a small flash, but often suggests a tiny burning particle or a figurative idea.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-16. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Other Meanings of Glint
Meaning 2
to take a quick look
Part of speech: verb
Definition: throw a glance at; take a brief look at
Example: She glinted at him across the room.
Synonyms for this meaning:
- glance — Works as a close substitute for a brief look.
- peek — Fits when the look is quick or secret, but is less general than glint.
Meaning 3
to shine with small highlights
Part of speech: verb
Definition: be shiny, as if wet
Example: The road glinted after the rain.
Synonyms for this meaning:
- gleam — A strong substitute when something shines with reflected light.
- glisten — Very close, especially for a wet or dewy shine.
- glitter — Works when the shining is made up of many small flashes.
- shine — Broader and less specific, but often usable.
Meaning 4
a small, local bright spot
Part of speech: noun
Definition: a spatially localized brightness
Example: A glint of light appeared on the horizon.
Synonyms for this meaning:
- flicker — Possible in some contexts, though it usually implies an unstable or repeated light.
- spark — Can work for a tiny bright point, but often suggests fire or a figurative spark.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: inaccurate — correction needed. Checked: 2026-10-16. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Glint Synonyms
Similar Meaning
- flicker
- spark
take a quick look
- glance
- peek
shine with small highlights
- gleam
- glisten
- glitter
- shine
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: inaccurate — correction needed. Checked: 2026-10-16. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Common Mistakes
- Do not confuse glint the noun meaning a flash of light with the verb meaning to shine.
- Do not use glint for a long steady shine; it usually suggests something brief or small.
- Do not mix it up with glance, which is the more common word for taking a quick look.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: uncertain — manual review needed. Checked: 2026-10-16. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does glint mean?
Glint usually means a brief flash of light or a small shining effect. It can also mean to take a quick look, though that use is less common.
What are the synonyms of glint?
For the light sense, good synonyms include flicker and spark. For the verb senses, glint can overlap with glance, peek, gleam, glisten, glitter, and shine, depending on the meaning.
Is glint a noun or a verb?
Both. As a noun, it means a brief flash or bright spot. As a verb, it can mean to glance briefly or to shine with small flashes.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-16. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
