What does glimmer mean?
Word: Glimmer
Part of Speech: Verb, noun
Meaning: Glimmer means to shine with a faint, unsteady light. As a noun, it can also mean a small sign of something, as in a glimmer of hope.
Synonyms: flicker
How do you spell glimmer?
Syllables: glim - mer
Tricky part: The m is doubled, even though you hear just one. Written with a single m, the word would look as if it rhymed with timer.
Watch out for: glimer, glimber
Memory tip: Glimmer keeps company with swimmer and slimmer. All three carry the same double letter.
Glimmer in a sentence
Example 1: Tiny oil lamps glimmer along the edge of the balcony.
Example 2: A few stars began to glimmer above the hills.
Example 3: There was a glimmer of hope when the rain finally stopped before the match.
Fun Fact
Many English words about light begin with the same two letters: glow, gleam, glitter, glisten, glint and this one. Word experts have long noticed the pattern.
Practise the CREST Way
Spell Probe
Fill the blanks with 'i' and 'e' in that order. Which option gives the meaning of that word?
1. n_mb_r 2. h_mm_r 3. gl_mm_r 4. sl_mb_r
a) a symbol that is used for counting
b) a deep and peaceful sleep
c) a tool for hitting nails into wood
d) a tiny shine that seems to tremble in the dark
Show answer
d) a tiny shine that seems to tremble in the dark. Hammer takes a and e, while slumber and number take u and e, so only the page word fits.
Word Puzzle
Match each word with its synonym:
1. glimmer 2. ponder 3. feeble a. weak b. think c. shimmer
a) 1-c, 2-b, 3-a
b) 1-b, 2-a, 3-c
c) 1-a, 2-c, 3-b
d) 1-b, 2-c, 3-a
Show answer
a) 1-c, 2-b, 3-a. To glimmer is to shimmer, to ponder is to think, and something feeble is weak.
Spellacadabra
Choose the misspelt word:
a) glisten
b) glitter
c) glimse
d) glimmer
Show answer
c) glimse. A glimpse has a p before its s, which this spelling has lost.
Word Tally
How many words are misspelt in the given sentence?
Far across the dark lake, the campers could see a glimmer of light from the little cottage on the opposite shore.
a) 0
b) 3
c) 2
d) 1
Show answer
a) 0. Every word in this sentence is spelt correctly.
Multiple Choice Questions
1. Which of these would glimmer rather than blaze?
a) a bonfire seen close up
b) a candle seen from far off
c) a stadium's floodlights
d) the sun high at noon
Show answer
b) a candle seen from far off
2. After weeks without rain, one small cloud gave the farmers a glimmer of hope. How did they most likely feel?
a) quite certain of rain
b) angrier than before
c) too busy to notice
d) slightly more cheerful
Show answer
d) slightly more cheerful
