glimpse
Momentary visual impression
A glimpse is a brief, incomplete look at something: I caught a glimpse of her through the crowd.
The word suggests quickness and partiality—you see just enough to register something without taking it fully in.
Glimpse extends to brief experiences beyond sight: a glimpse of what life could be.
To glimpse is to see briefly: He glimpsed movement in the shadows.
Brief, casual look
- peekFurtive brief look
- lookDirect one's gaze
- viewWhat's seen from somewhere
- sightVisual perception faculty
gaze · observe · spot · eye · scan · survey · watch · regard
Passing very quickly
- momentaryLasting very briefly
- quickMoving with speed
- passingMoving by or temporary
- transientTemporary, soon departing
short-lived · instantaneous · flash · split-second · ephemeral · rapid · fugitive · cursory
Incomplete portion of whole
- sliverThin split-off piece
- hintIndirect suggestion
- tasteFlavor perception ability
- snippetSmall cut portion
sample · teaser · preview · foretaste · suggestion · indication · inkling · smattering
Move with stealth
- furtiveSecretive and sly
- surreptitiousDone secretly, avoiding detection
- stolenTaken unlawfully
- secretConcealed information
hidden · clandestine · stealthy · covert · peeking · spying · unnoticed · discreet
Mental comprehension of something
- revelationSurprising disclosed truth
- epiphanySudden profound insight
- realizationGrasping what's true
- awarenessState of perceiving reality
clarity · illumination · window · inkling · appreciation · sense · grasp · perception
glance
Brief, casual look
sight · gaze · observe · spot · eye · scan · survey · watch · regard · notice
fleeting
Passing very quickly
transient · short-lived · instantaneous · flash · split-second · ephemeral · rapid · fugitive · cursory · hasty
fragment
Incomplete portion of whole
snippet · sample · teaser · preview · foretaste · suggestion · indication · inkling · smattering · snatch
sneak
Move with stealth
- furtiveSecretive and sly
- surreptitiousDone secretly, avoiding detection
- stolenTaken unlawfully
secret · hidden · clandestine · stealthy · covert · peeking · spying · unnoticed · discreet · voyeuristic
understanding
Mental comprehension of something
- revelationSurprising disclosed truth
- epiphanySudden profound insight
- realizationGrasping what's true
awareness · clarity · illumination · window · inkling · appreciation · sense · grasp · perception · intuition
expose
Make known publicly
uncover · betray · flash · display · exhibit · bare · manifest · divulge · suggest · offer
catch
Seize or snag
notice · spot · recognize · identify · uncover · find · reveal · espy · make out · pick out
- sightvision, eyesight, view, glance, gaze
- perceptionsee, vision, seeing, senses, observing
- glancesglance, peek, peep, quick look, passing glance
- small amountsbit, drop, hint, dash, pinch
- Passing Observationsglance, peek, quick look, fleeting thought, sidelong glance
- sight wordssight, vision, gaze, seeing, watching
glimpsescrutiny
Close, careful examination
examination · study · inspection · analysis · investigation