glimpse
/ɡlɪm(p)s
/noun
1A momentary or partial view: she caught a glimpse of the ocean...
- Trying to look past the dull conversation, I caught a glimpse of red from the corner of my eye.
- The only thing is during all of this, I caught a glimpse of his face and he looked so familiar.
- She peeked round the corner and caught a glimpse of a police car going slowly down the street.
Synonyms
brief look, quick look;
glance, peek, peep;
sight, sighting;
French coup d'œil
1.1A brief insight or indication: during the interview he offered a behind-the-scenes glimpse of television...
- Shot mostly among red brick suburbs, the film also offers brief glimpses of the modern concrete city centre.
- There will be brief glimpses into what the future holds as well.
- Sometimes youth football offers a glimpse of the present, not the future.
verb [with object]
1See or perceive briefly or partially: he glimpsed a figure standing in the shade...
- Everyone here has heard the stories - or maybe, been on a convoy through the green zone, briefly glimpsed the way that other half lives.
- We briefly glimpse him alive and well before he is blown from his horse by a shell that destroys a significant part of his face.
- He briefly glimpses a woman running down the wooded path, but she is far away and disappears around a corner before he can look more closely.
Synonyms
catch sight of, catch/get a glimpse of, see briefly, get a sight of, notice, discern, spot, spy, sight, note, pick out, make out
British informal clock
literary espy, descry
1.1 [no object] archaic Shine or appear faintly or intermittently: glow-worms glimpsing in the dark...
- Rare rays of sunlight glimpsed through the clouds, shining onto the square.
Origin
Middle English (in the sense 'shine faintly'): probably of Germanic origin; related to Middle High German glimsen, also to glimmer.