Glance: meaning, definitions and examples

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glance

[ ɡlæns ]

Verb / Noun

^{Context #1 | Verb}

in a quick look

To take a brief or hurried look. To look quickly or briefly. To cast a brief or hurried look. To look or glance quickly or briefly. To look briefly. To take a quick look. To look quickly.

Synonyms

glimpse, look quickly, peek, peek at.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

Word	Description / Examples
glance	Use 'glance' when you are referring to a quick and often intentional look at something. She took a quick glance at her watch. He only needed a glance to recognize the painting.
peek	Use 'peek' when you are looking quickly and secretly at something, often to see something you are not supposed to see. She peeked into the gift bag to see what was inside. The kids peeked through the curtains to watch the surprise party setup.
glimpse	Use 'glimpse' when you catch sight of something briefly or partially, often without intention. He caught a glimpse of her as she walked by. I only had a glimpse of the actor before the crowd blocked my view.
peek at	Use 'peek at' when specifying the object of the quick and secretive look. She couldn't resist peeking at her friend's diary. While waiting in the queue, he peeked at the menu.
look quickly	Use 'look quickly' when you want to emphasize the speed of the action of looking, without any specific intention behind the look. She looked quickly at the door when she heard the noise. He had to look quickly to avoid missing the passing car.

Examples of usage

He glanced at his watch to check the time.
She glanced around the room nervously.
I just glanced at the newspaper headlines this morning.
The teacher glanced over the students' homework quickly.
We quickly glanced at the map to find our way.

^{Context #2 | Noun}

quick look

A brief or hurried look. A quick or brief look. A rapid or hurried look. A quick view. A swift or brief look. A fast or quick look. A passing or quick look. A cursory look.

Synonyms

brief look, glimpse, look, quick look.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

Word	Description / Examples
glance	When you take a very quick look at something or someone, typically out of curiosity or to get a quick piece of information. He stole a glance at the clock to check the time. She glanced through the report quickly.
glimpse	When you catch a quick, often incomplete view of something, usually for just a moment. Can imply seeing something partially or through an obstacle. I caught a glimpse of the actor as he stepped out of the car. She glimpsed her reflection in the window as she walked by.
look	A more general term for directing one's gaze towards something. It doesn't specify the duration or the intention behind the action. Take a look at this photograph. He gave her a curious look.
quick look	Similar to 'glance,' it refers to a very short and rapid observation, often to gather information quickly. Give me a quick look at that document.
brief look	When you look at something for a short amount of time, usually to get a general idea without going into detail. I took a brief look at the menu before deciding on my order. The teacher gave the homework a brief look before returning it.

Examples of usage

She gave him a quick glance before leaving the room.
He caught a glance of the beautiful sunset.
I saw a glance of recognition in her eyes.
His glance lingered on her for a moment.
The teacher gave the student a quick glance.

Translations

Translations of the word "glance" in other languages:

🇵🇹 olhar

🇮🇳 झलक

🇩🇪 Blick

🇮🇩 pandangan sekilas

🇺🇦 погляд

🇵🇱 spojrzenie

🇯🇵 一目

🇫🇷 coup d'œil

🇪🇸 mirada

🇹🇷 bakış

🇰🇷 흘끗 봄

🇸🇦 نظرة

🇨🇿 pohled

🇸🇰 pohľad

🇨🇳 一瞥

🇸🇮 pogled

🇮🇸 svip

🇰🇿 қарау

🇬🇪 მზერა

🇦🇿 baxış

🇲🇽 mirada

Etymology

The word 'glance' originated from the Old French word 'glancer', which means 'to gleam' or 'to shine'. The verb form of 'glance' first appeared in the English language in the 14th century, while the noun form dates back to the 15th century. Over the years, 'glance' has retained its meaning of a quick or brief look, reflecting the fast-paced nature of modern life.

Word Frequency Rank

With rank #4,008, this word represents useful upper-intermediate vocabulary. Understanding and using it will help you express more complex ideas effectively.

...
4005 emission
4006 instructed
4007 governed
4008 glance
4009 treasurer
4010 undertake
4011 potentially
...