glimpsing
glimpsing — verb
- glimpsingpresent simple I / you / we / they
- glimpsings3rd person singular
- glimpsinging-ing form
- glimpsingedpast simple
1. to see someone or something for only a very short moment, often not getting a co
to see someone or something for only a very short moment, often not getting a complete view of the person or thing
Wei glimpsed a deer standing by the river as the morning train passed through the valley.
glimpse + object + -ing clause
Theo kept glimpsing the same woman at every subway stop, which made him curious.
glimpse in continuous form (-ing as headword)
From the ferry deck, the children glimpsed a dolphin jumping out of the water.
Clara glimpsed the finished painting for only a second before the movers wrapped it in cloth.
- spot
can mean seeing something hard to find; more active and deliberate than glimpse
- catch sight of
a common phrase; slightly more formal and suggests the view is fleeting
- make out
implies straining to see something unclear; less about brevity and more about difficulty
- stare at
to look at something for a long time with focus
- scrutinize
to examine very closely and carefully
文法句型
glimpse + object
glimpse + object + -ing
用法筆記
Frequently used in the phrase pattern 'catch a glimpse of' as an alternative to the transitive verb. The -ing form 'glimpsing' is the present participle and gerund; it appears in continuous tenses ('was glimpsing') or as a noun-like form ('Glimpsing the answer is not the same as understanding it').
常見錯誤
glimpsing — noun
1. a very short, often incomplete look at someone or something, usually because the
a very short, often incomplete look at someone or something, usually because the person or thing passes by quickly or is partly hidden
Ananya caught a brief glimpse of the famous actress as she stepped into the black car.
collocation: catch a glimpse of
Fans waiting outside the stadium got a quick glimpse of their favourite team boarding the bus.
collocation: get a glimpse of
Through the curtain gap, the detective caught a glimpse of the man inside.
Omar said that one glimpse of the northern lights was worth the whole cold trip to Alaska.
Siti took a quick glimpse at the exam paper before the teacher told everyone to turn it over.
- long look
an extended, unhurried period of looking
用法筆記
Commonly used in the fixed expressions 'catch a glimpse of' and 'get a glimpse of'. Unlike the verb form, the noun can follow 'take a glimpse at' in informal contexts.
常見錯誤
2. a sudden, incomplete understanding or early sign of what a larger situation, ide
a sudden, incomplete understanding or early sign of what a larger situation, idea, or future event will be like
Reading the old letters gave the historian a rare glimpse into life during the war years.
collocation: a glimpse into [topic/period]
The first chapter offers a fascinating glimpse of the author's view on modern education.
collocation: a glimpse of [someone's view/opinion]
Diego said the short film gave him a glimpse of a firefighter's daily life.
Early sales figures provided a first glimpse into how the new phone would perform in the market.
- full understanding
a complete and thorough comprehension
用法筆記
Always used with 'of', 'into', or 'at' to indicate what is being partially understood. Subject is often a source that reveals information (a book, a report, an experience). Distinguish from sense 1 (BRIEF LOOK): sense 1 is about physically seeing something for a short time; sense 2 is about gaining partial insight or awareness.