glimpse

Everyday

1. (noun) A very quick look at something, so you see it only for a moment or only a part of it. tree →
2. (verb) To see something for a moment, often by chance. tree →
3. (noun) A short experience that shows you what something is like, as in «a glimpse of the future». tree →

In the lessons

Common in stories: «caught a glimpse of», «glimpsed a figure in the mist». It builds mystery, because the character (and the reader) see only a little. In history and science, a find can give «a glimpse into» how people lived long ago.

Examples

• I caught a glimpse of the fox before it ran into the bushes. tree →
• Alice glimpsed the White Rabbit hurrying down a long passage. tree →
• We got a glimpse of the Queen as her car went past. tree →
• Through the trees Mole glimpsed the lights of a house. tree →
• The Roman coins give us a glimpse into life long ago. tree →
• She glimpsed a shooting star. tree →
• The museum offers a glimpse of life in a Victorian school. tree →
• Through each of these doors I caught glimpses of splendid gardens or of rich storehouses. tree →

Note

Countable noun: a glimpse; «catch a glimpse of» is the most common phrase. Regular verb: glimpsed. Do not confuse with «glance», which is the act of looking quickly; a glimpse is what you manage to see.