verb

glance

glahns

verb

To take a quick, brief look at something.

"She glanced at her watch during the meeting."

"He glanced over the report before signing it."

To strike something at an angle and bounce off in another direction, rather than hitting it straight on.

"The arrow glanced off the shield and flew into the bushes."

"The bullet glanced off the car door."

noun

A quick, brief look.

"One glance at his face told her something was wrong."

"They exchanged a nervous glance before answering."

How to Use Glance

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishA quick look, or (for objects) to bounce off something at an angle instead of hitting it directly.

Common mistake

Don't confuse with "gaze" (a long, steady look) or "glimpse" (a brief, incomplete view, often of something moving or partly hidden).

Easily confused with

glimpse → gaze →

Common pairings

glance at glance up glance over a quick glance

Word Forms

glanced past tense, glance plural, glanced plural, glances plural, glances singular, glance singular, glanced singular, glancest singular, glancedst singular, glanceth singular

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Fill the Gap

Can you complete this real example?

She _____ at her watch during the meeting.

Etymology

From Middle English glenchen, "to strike a glancing blow" or "to dodge aside," blending an Old French word for sliding on ice with another meaning "to swerve or dodge."

Synonyms

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gleg glimpse shufti

Related Words

sight glimpse

Rhymes for glance

lance dance Nance rance Vance chance nuance trance stance prance fiance balance

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gleg glimpse shufti sight