Glance
/ɡlæns/
Definitions
2 meaningsTo look quickly or briefly.
/ɡlæns/
To take a brief or hurried look.
He glanced at the newspaper headlines.
💡 Simply: Imagine you're walking and quickly peek at something interesting. That's a glance! Like when you quickly look at someone's new shoes.
👶 For kids: To look at something very quickly.
More Examples
She glanced nervously at the clock.
I glanced over my notes before the exam.
How It's Used
"She glanced at her watch to check the time."
"He glanced over the letter, eager to learn its contents."
A quick look or view.
/ɡlæns/
A brief or hurried look.
She took a quick glance at the map.
💡 Simply: It's like when you take a quick peek. That little moment of looking is a glance! Like when someone smiles and you see it just for a quick glance.
👶 For kids: A fast look.
More Examples
I caught a glance of the beautiful sunset.
The brief glance revealed his surprise.
How It's Used
"He gave a quick glance around the room."
"I caught a glance of the celebrity."
Idioms & expressions
at a glance
Immediately; with only a brief look.
"I could tell at a glance that something was wrong."
From Middle English *glansen*, from Old French *glacier* ("to glide, slip") or from a related Germanic source, from Proto-Germanic *glantijaną ("to glance, gleam").
The verb 'glance' has been used since the 13th century, originally meaning "to gleam or shine." The meaning shifted to a quick look over time.
Memory tip
Think of a quick "glance" in the mirror before leaving the house.
Word Origin
"to gleam, glide"