sparkle
1 of 2verb
spar·kle ˈspär-kəl 
sparkled; sparkling ˈspär-k(ə-)liŋ
intransitive verb
1
a
: to throw out sparks
b
: to give off or reflect bright moving points of light
c
: to perform brilliantly
2
: effervesce
wine that sparkles
3
: to become lively or animated
the dialogue sparkles with wit
eyes sparkling with anger
transitive verb
: to cause to glitter or shine
sparkle
2 of 2noun
1
: a little spark : scintillation
2
: the quality of sparkling
3
a
: animation, liveliness
b
: the quality or state of being effervescent
Synonyms
Verb
- scintillate
- spark
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
Verb The dancers sparkled on stage. Her eyes sparkled with pride. Noun The sun reflected off the water in bright sparkles of light. He caught the sparkle of her diamond out of the corner of his eye. a performance full of sparkle and originality the sparkle in her eyes See More
Recent Examples on the Web
Tucker Reals, Haley Ott, CBS News, 9 Sep. 2022 Jennifer certainly delivered the drama—and sparkle—the world expected on her wedding day. Alice Cary, Glamour, 24 Aug. 2022 Last year, a TikTok trend let millions inside the sparkle-skirt-wearing world of Alabama Panhellenic culture. al, 3 Aug. 2022 There are treats that shimmer and sparkle, others draped in icing. Washington Post, 1 Dec. 2021 His tales from the trail also sparkle with excitement. David James, Anchorage Daily News, 28 Aug. 2022 But in the months ahead, Henry Schein shares could sparkle even if worries over the economy continue to beset the overall market. Justin Lahart, WSJ, 24 Aug. 2022 To really make your floors sparkle, multiple cleaning gadgets are typically a must. Isabel Garcia, Peoplemag, 18 Aug. 2022 In no time, spills will be gone and every nook and cranny of your microwave will sparkle and shine. Alicia Chilton, Better Homes & Gardens, 28 July 2022 Lynn Elber, Anchorage Daily News, 13 Sep. 2022 Glamour was back with some metallic sparkle and lots of bright color as an otherworldly Britt Lower, Old Hollywood Elle Fanning and their fellow stars posed for photographers. Lynn Elber, Chicago Tribune, 13 Sep. 2022 Glamour was back with some metallic sparkle and lots of bright color as an otherworldly Britt Lower, Old Hollywood Elle Fanning and their fellow stars posed for photographers. Lynn Elber, BostonGlobe.com, 13 Sep. 2022 Glamour was back with some metallic sparkle and lots of bright color as an otherworldly Britt Lower, Old Hollywood Elle Fanning and their fellow stars posed for photographers. Lynn Elber, Orlando Sentinel, 12 Sep. 2022 Known for desserts and unique takes on comfort food, the menu in Boca Raton remains largely New Jersey Boardwalk-inspired, but with a little more sparkle and glam. Phillip Valys, Sun Sentinel, 7 Sep. 2022 Look to Hermès necklaces to top off Emporio Armani’s little black dress or Saint Laurent by Anthony Vaccarello’s to-the-max black gown with extra sparkle. Corinne Dorsey, WSJ, 23 Aug. 2022 The hazy glow of gas and dust that make up the nebula are stark against a milky sky dotted with the sparkle of stars in the iconic Hubble image. Eva Botkin-kowacki, The Christian Science Monitor, 14 July 2022 New hardware can add showroom-quality sparkle to the bath. Sarah Egge, Better Homes & Gardens, 4 Aug. 2022 See More
Verb
Tonight, our tower lights will shine in purple and sparkle in silver to honor the life and legacy of Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II. Tucker Reals, Haley Ott, CBS News, 9 Sep. 2022 Jennifer certainly delivered the drama—and sparkle—the world expected on her wedding day. Alice Cary, Glamour, 24 Aug. 2022 Last year, a TikTok trend let millions inside the sparkle-skirt-wearing world of Alabama Panhellenic culture. al, 3 Aug. 2022 There are treats that shimmer and sparkle, others draped in icing. Washington Post, 1 Dec. 2021 His tales from the trail also sparkle with excitement. David James, Anchorage Daily News, 28 Aug. 2022 But in the months ahead, Henry Schein shares could sparkle even if worries over the economy continue to beset the overall market. Justin Lahart, WSJ, 24 Aug. 2022 To really make your floors sparkle, multiple cleaning gadgets are typically a must. Isabel Garcia, Peoplemag, 18 Aug. 2022 In no time, spills will be gone and every nook and cranny of your microwave will sparkle and shine. Alicia Chilton, Better Homes & Gardens, 28 July 2022 Noun
Glamour was back with some metallic sparkle and lots of bright color as an otherworldly Britt Lower, Old Hollywood Elle Fanning and their fellow stars posed for photographers. Lynn Elber, Anchorage Daily News, 13 Sep. 2022 Glamour was back with some metallic sparkle and lots of bright color as an otherworldly Britt Lower, Old Hollywood Elle Fanning and their fellow stars posed for photographers. Lynn Elber, Chicago Tribune, 13 Sep. 2022 Glamour was back with some metallic sparkle and lots of bright color as an otherworldly Britt Lower, Old Hollywood Elle Fanning and their fellow stars posed for photographers. Lynn Elber, BostonGlobe.com, 13 Sep. 2022 Glamour was back with some metallic sparkle and lots of bright color as an otherworldly Britt Lower, Old Hollywood Elle Fanning and their fellow stars posed for photographers. Lynn Elber, Orlando Sentinel, 12 Sep. 2022 Known for desserts and unique takes on comfort food, the menu in Boca Raton remains largely New Jersey Boardwalk-inspired, but with a little more sparkle and glam. Phillip Valys, Sun Sentinel, 7 Sep. 2022 Look to Hermès necklaces to top off Emporio Armani’s little black dress or Saint Laurent by Anthony Vaccarello’s to-the-max black gown with extra sparkle. Corinne Dorsey, WSJ, 23 Aug. 2022 The hazy glow of gas and dust that make up the nebula are stark against a milky sky dotted with the sparkle of stars in the iconic Hubble image. Eva Botkin-kowacki, The Christian Science Monitor, 14 July 2022 New hardware can add showroom-quality sparkle to the bath. Sarah Egge, Better Homes & Gardens, 4 Aug. 2022 See More Word History
Etymology
Verb
Middle English, frequentative of sparken to spark
Noun
Middle English, diminutive of sparke
First Known Use
Verb
13th century, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1a
Noun
14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Kids Definition
sparkle 1 of 2
verb
spar·kle ˈspär-kəl
sparkled; sparkling
1
: to give off small flashes of light
The diamond sparkled.
2
: to be lively or bright
The conversation sparkled.
His eyes sparkled.
sparkle
2 of 2noun
1
: a little flash of light
sparkles of red light
2
: the quality of being bright or giving off small flashes of light
the sparkle of a diamond
the sparkle of her eyes
sparkles 1 of 2
verb
1
as in glows
to give off sparks while fireworks that sparkle may be entertaining to look at, they can be highly dangerous when used indoors Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- glows
- scintillates
- sparks
- shines
- flashes
- twinkles
- burns
- blazes
- flames
- radiates
- combusts
- lights (up)
- flares (up)
2
as in gleams
to shoot forth bursts of light the crystal sparkled in the sunlight Synonyms & Similar Words
- gleams
- shimmers
- glitters
- glints
- twinkles
- flashes
- shines
- glistens
- glows
- glimmers
- spangles
- scintillates
- glisters
- winks
- lusters
- flames
- winkles
- glances
- lustres
- dazzles
- coruscates
- beams
- bedazzles
- radiates
- flares
- blinds
- dazes
- glares
- blazes
- burns
sparkles
2 of 2noun
as in shimmers
Synonyms & Similar Words
- shimmers
- twinkles
- glints
- glitters
- shines
- glows
- gleams
- glimmers
- scintillations
- flashes
- glares
- sunshines
- lights
- illuminations
- sunlights
- blazes
- luminescences
- fluorescences
- radiances
- flares
- sunbeams
- glistens
- beams
- haloes
- moonlights
- rays
- polishes
- daylights
- incandescences
- aureoles
- halos
- lusters
- streaks
- auroras
- sheens
- streams
- glosses
- afterglows
- shafts
- aurorae
- reflections
- aureolae
- lustres
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- shadows
- glooms
- nights
- darks
- dusks