glance
B1Neutral to Formal
Definition
Meaning
A brief or quick look.
To hit something at an angle and bounce off; to read or look over something very quickly.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
As a noun, it implies brevity and often lack of detail. As a verb, it can describe physical deflection (glance off) or a quick, often casual, visual action. Often implies intention is not to study deeply.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Minimal. Both use 'glance' identically for looking. In the physical 'deflection' sense, 'ricochet' is more common in American military/ballistics contexts.
Connotations
Identical.
Frequency
Equally common in both varieties.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
glance at [object]glance over [object]glance through [object]glance off [object]glance [prepositional phrase: e.g., across the room]Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “At first glance”
- “Steal a glance”
- “Without a backward glance”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
"A glance at the quarterly report revealed the trend." (Quick review of data)
Academic
"The article is worth more than a cursory glance." (Superficial reading)
Everyday
"I'll just glance at the menu." (Quick look)
Technical
"The projectile will glance off the armour at that angle." (Deflect)
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- He glanced at his watch nervously.
- The cricket ball glanced off the stumps.
- Could you glance over these figures before the meeting?
American English
- She glanced at her phone during the lecture.
- The bullet glanced off the car's hood.
- I only had time to glance through the contract.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- She gave him a quick glance.
- Glance at the clock to check the time.
- At first glance, the problem seemed simple.
- I saw him glance nervously towards the door.
- His article is not to be glanced over; it requires careful study.
- The sword glanced off the knight's shield.
- A mere glance at the complex schematics was enough to identify the flaw.
- Her essay glanced upon several key philosophical debates without delving deeply into any.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a GLANCE as a GLANCE of light - quick, bright, and fleeting.
Conceptual Metaphor
VISUAL ATTENTION IS A PHYSICAL RESOURCE (steal a glance, give a glance); UNDERSTANDING IS SEEING (see at a glance).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Do not confuse with "glimpse" (мельком увидеть). "Glance" is the act of looking quickly; "glimpse" is the result - a brief view of something.
- Avoid using "glance" to mean "shine" or "sparkle" (which is блеск/блестеть).
Common Mistakes
- Using "glance" to mean a long look. (Incorrect: *I glanced at the painting for an hour.)
- Confusing "glance at" and "glimpse of." (You TAKE/HAVE a glance AT something. You CATCH/GET a glimpse OF something.)
Practice
Quiz
Which phrase means 'to deflect or bounce off at an angle'?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
'Glance' is an act of looking quickly (verb: I glanced at the screen). 'Glimpse' is a brief view you receive or catch (noun: I caught a glimpse of a deer).
Yes. Noun: 'She stole a glance.' Verb: 'He glanced sideways.'
It means 'upon initial or superficial observation,' often implying a later, deeper understanding may differ.
It is neutral and suitable for both everyday and formal contexts, though in very formal writing, synonyms like 'peruse' (for reading) might be used, albeit with a different connotation.