Glance: Meaning, Examples, and Quick Look Usage

Meaning 1：look quickly (glance)

glance 🔊

/ɡlæns/

to look at something for a very short moment, often without turning your head much.

Person glancing quickly at a cafe sign on a busy street

look quickly 🔊

➕

/lʊk ˈkwɪkli/

To direct your eyes towards something for a very brief period, often without focusing intently; a swift, casual look.

📁 Category：Behaviors & Actions 🔖 Level：Intermediate

📘 Details & Usage

📖 Root Explanation

From Old French 'glacier' (slip) and 'glint' (shine), for a quick fleeting look.

💡 Mnemonic

Imagine 'glance' as 'glass' + 'lance': a glass lance strikes fast — so does your eye in a glance.

📖 Example

As I walked past the shop, I glanced at the new dresses in the window. 🔊 While walking past the store, I quickly looked at the new dresses in the display window.

🔗 Collocations

glance at – to look quickly at something, often without full attention

glance over – to read or examine something quickly

glance through – to look quickly at the contents of something

🔄 Synonyms

glimpse (v.) – to see or catch sight of something for a very short moment, often unintentionally

peek (v.) – to look quickly or secretly, especially through a small opening

skim (v.) – to read or look over something quickly to get the main ideas, not focusing on details

🚫 Antonyms

stare (v.) – to look at something for a long time with fixed eyes, often with curiosity or surprise

gaze (v.) – to look at something steadily and intently for a long time

scrutinize (v.) – to examine or inspect something very closely and carefully

🌱 Derivatives

glance (n.) – a quick or brief look

glancing (adj.) – hit or strike obliquely; also can mean brief or fleeting

📖 Cultural Story

Originally meant 'to shine' in Middle English, from Old French 'glacier'. The shift from a physical gleam to a quick visual action occurred in the 16th century, reflecting the fleeting nature of both light and glances.