Definition

Not direct; indirect or slanting in direction or impact.

Example

The glancing blow from the ball surprised him.

Conversation

Did you notice that glancing light from the sunset yesterday?

Yeah, it was beautiful! It made everything look so warm.

I love how the colors change with that glancing effect.

Me too! It adds a magical touch to the evening.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Root Explanation

Glancing is formed from "glance" (from Old French *glancer*, meaning to shine or to glance) and the suffix "-ing" (indicating the action or process). The word "glancing" refers to the action of looking quickly or briefly.

Memory Tip

Think of the Old French word for shining or looking quickly — that's why glancing means to look briefly.

Visually Confused Words