MEANING
To shine with a small, steady or softly reflected light.
Use it for
Polished wet rock, moonlit water, and subdued brightness.Give an object light without making it dazzle.
Words that belong together
- wet stones gleam
- gleam in moonlight
- pale gleam
On the page
The wet pebbles gleamed after the rain.
Moonlight made the river gleam between the trees.
A pale patch of ice gleamed under the bank.
Nearby words
Related words
Word forms
- Base
- gleam / gleams
- Past tense
- gleamed
- Past participle
- gleamed
- Present participle
- gleaming
Full tense & aspect guide
- Present
- gleam / gleams
- Present continuous
- am/is/are gleaming
- Present perfect
- have/has gleamed
- Present perfect continuous
- have/has been gleaming
- Past
- gleamed
- Past continuous
- was/were gleaming
- Past perfect
- had gleamed
- Past perfect continuous
- had been gleaming
- Future
- will gleam / gleams
- Future continuous
- will be gleaming
- Future perfect
- will have gleamed
- Future perfect continuous
- will have been gleaming
Choose the auxiliary that agrees with your subject. These are constructions of one word, not separate entries.
Usage notes
Primary category: environment. Often less intermittent than glint; also a noun for a soft or narrow brightness. Verb [base, third-person, past, past participle, -ing]: gleam, gleams, gleamed, gleamed, gleaming.
Practice this word in a sentenceYour margin notes
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