Resolved questions
Difference between glance and glimpse?
Today I learnt a new word
GLANCE, its meaning is To look briefly (at something). To graze a surface.
To sparkle
So I made the following sentences:
-She glanced at her reflection as she passed the mirror.
-The spring sunlight was glancing on the water.
But then I found another word which meaning is similar (?). It is
GLIMPSE
and its meaning is:
A brief look, glance, or peek.
So now I don't understand the defference. Can anyone please tell me something about this and, if possible, write an example?
Thanks in advance
GLANCE, its meaning is To look briefly (at something). To graze a surface.
To sparkle
So I made the following sentences:
-She glanced at her reflection as she passed the mirror.
-The spring sunlight was glancing on the water.
But then I found another word which meaning is similar (?). It is
GLIMPSE
and its meaning is:
A brief look, glance, or peek.
So now I don't understand the defference. Can anyone please tell me something about this and, if possible, write an example?
Thanks in advance
Share:
Answers
Sort by:
Best Answer - Chosen by Voting
I think that glance implies that the look was intentionally brief. The glancer chose to look at something and then look away.
Glimpse implies that something obstructed the view or that the glimpsed object moved out of sight.
Also, a person "glimpses" an object but "glances at" the object. Both words can be either nouns or verbs.Glimpse is more commonly used as a noun ("I caught a glimpse of...")
"I glanced at her as she took the seat next to me."
"I glimpsed her red shoes before she sat down."
Glimpse implies that something obstructed the view or that the glimpsed object moved out of sight.
Also, a person "glimpses" an object but "glances at" the object. Both words can be either nouns or verbs.Glimpse is more commonly used as a noun ("I caught a glimpse of...")
"I glanced at her as she took the seat next to me."
"I glimpsed her red shoes before she sat down."
Glance can be used to mean "to briefly look at something" but it can also mean "to hit something at an angle" (e.g. the bus mirror delivered a glancing blow to his head).
Glimpse can also mean to briefly see something and could be used as a synonym for glance, but I tend to think that the difference is in intention. When you glance at something you are intending to look at it, glimpse feels more passive. It means you saw something briefly without intending to (e.g. As she walked past she caught a glimpse of the bank robber fleeing).
Glimpse can also mean to briefly see something and could be used as a synonym for glance, but I tend to think that the difference is in intention. When you glance at something you are intending to look at it, glimpse feels more passive. It means you saw something briefly without intending to (e.g. As she walked past she caught a glimpse of the bank robber fleeing).
Submit your answer
Please enter between 2 and 2000 characters.
If you copy this answer from another italki answer page, please state the URL of where you got your answer from.
2 comments
Please enter between 2 and 2000 characters.