glare
glare
Pronunciation
Phonetic Spelling (IPA)
/ɡlɛər/
glare (one syllable)
/ɡl/: A consonant blend starting with the voiced velar plosive 'g' sound (as in "go") and moving immediately to the voiced alveolar lateral approximant 'l' sound (as in "lie").
/ɛər/: An r-controlled vowel diphthong, the "air" sound (as in "air" or "care").
Word Form Variations
Noun: glare (singular), glares (plural)
Verb: glare (base form), glares (third-person singular present), glaring (present participle), glared (past tense and past participle)
Adjective: glaring (derived from the present participle)
Adverb: glaringly (derived from the adjective)
Definitions, Synonyms and Antonyms
🗣️ As a Noun
Definition: A harsh, intense, and unpleasantly bright light.
Synonyms: blaze, dazzle, beam, radiance
Antonyms: dimness, darkness, shade, shadow
Definition: A long, fixed, and angry stare.
Synonyms: scowl, glower, dirty look, frown
Antonyms: smile, glance, peek, grin
Definition: Intense, unwelcome, and persistent public attention or scrutiny.
Synonyms: spotlight, limelight, public eye, scrutiny
Antonyms: privacy, obscurity, anonymity
🏃 As a Verb
Definition: (intransitive) To shine with a strong, dazzling, or unpleasant light.
Synonyms: blaze, dazzle, beam, shine
Antonyms: dim, fade, flicker, glow (softly)
Definition: (intransitive) To look at someone or something in a fierce, hostile, or angry way for an extended moment.
Synonyms: glower, scowl, frown, gape (angrily)
Antonyms: smile (at), grin (at), glance (at), peek (at)
✨ As an Adjective (from glaring)
Definition: Extremely obvious, conspicuous, or noticeable, often in a negative way (e.g., a "glaring error").
Synonyms: blatant, flagrant, obvious, overt, conspicuous
Antonyms: subtle, hidden, minor, insignificant, concealed
Examples of Use
📚 In Books and Literature
As a noun (an angry look): "Professor McGonagall shot him a sharp glare as he passed her, and he ducked his head." (J.K. Rowling, Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone)
As an adjective (obvious): "She was amazingly found to be rational, and collected, and her sensibilities were recovering their normal tone; and every feature beamed with the most glaring self-complacency." (Jane Austen, Pride and Prejudice)
📰 In Newspapers and Online Publications
As a noun (harsh light): "The matte finish on the display excels at cutting down reflections and glare, making it usable even in bright outdoor conditions." (The Verge, August 2024)
As an adjective (obvious): "The report highlighted several glaring security failures that led to the breach." (The Washington Post, October 2024)
As a noun (public scrutiny): "After the scandal, the company found itself in the unwelcome glare of federal investigators."
🎬 In Entertainment (Film, TV, and Gaming)
As a verb (to look angrily): In a movie script, stage direction might read: "CLOSE UP on MARK. He glares at the empty chair, his jaw set."
As a noun (harsh light): A director of photography might discuss "using a C-stand and a flag to cut the glare coming off the car's windshield" during a shoot.
As a noun (look): In the video game The Last of Us, a character may glare at their companion after a tense disagreement or risky decision.
As a noun (light): On a YouTube tech review: "I love the design of this new laptop, but the screen glare is awful. You can barely see it if a window is behind you."
💬 In General Public Discourse
As a verb (to stare): "I accidentally cut him off in traffic, and he glared at me all the way to the next red light."
As an adjective (obvious): A sports commentator might say, "That was a glaring foul by the defense, and the referee completely missed it."
As a noun (public scrutiny): In politics: "Any politician running for that office must be prepared to live under the constant glare of the media."
10 Famous Quotes Using Glare
"And the rocket's red glare, the bombs bursting in air, / Gave proof through the night that our flag was still there." (Francis Scott Key)
"There are two kinds of light—the glow that illuminates, and the glare that obscures." (James Thurber)
"Never look on the bright side. The glare is blinding." (Florence King)
"Maidens, like moths, are ever caught by glare, / And Mammon wins his way where seraphs might despair." (Lord Byron)
"How would we keep them grounded under the glare of the national spotlight?" (Michelle Obama)
"One of the strange things about violent and authoritarian regimes is they don't like the glare of negative publicity." (Salman Rushdie)
"Turn that off! I won't be looked at in this merciless glare!" (Tennessee Williams)
"There is a glare about worldly success which is very apt to dazzle men's eyes." (Augustus William Hare)
"...but the greatest wisdom is blinded by the glare of vanity." (Paulo Coelho)
"Heaven is not like flying or swimming, but has something to do with blackness and a strong glare." (Elizabeth Bishop)
Etymology
At its heart, the word "glare" has always been about shining light.
It traces back to Middle English in the 14th century (the 1300s) from the word glaren, which meant "to shine brightly" or "to gleam." This English word was very similar to words in other old Germanic languages (like Middle Dutch and Middle Low German) that also meant "to glitter" or "to shine."
This whole family of words is probably related to the same ancient root that gave us the word "glass"—it all comes back to a shiny, bright, or reflective quality.
How the Meaning Split in Two
The most interesting part is how this one word split into its two main modern meanings: a bright light and an angry look.
First Meaning (The Light): The original and first-known use of "glare" was as a verb meaning "to shine brightly or intensely." People used it to describe the sun, a polished sword, or a sheet of ice.
Second Meaning (The Look): Very soon after, people began to apply this same idea to a person's eyes. When someone is furious, their eyes don't look soft; they look sharp, intense, and "shine" with anger. This is how "to glare" also came to mean "to stare fiercely or angrily."
For centuries, "glare" was just an action (a verb). It wasn't until much later (around the 1600s) that we started using it as a noun to mean "a harsh, dazzling light," and later still (the 1700s) as a noun for "an angry stare."
Phrases + Idioms Containing Glare
The glare of publicity / the spotlight / the media
A death glare
An icy glare
The glare of the sun
Headlight glare
Screen glare
To cast a glare
Caught in the glare
A withering glare
To return a glare
Idioms with Synonyms (Similar Effect)
These idioms don't use the word "glare" but capture its two primary meanings.
😠 For the "Angry Look" Meaning
If looks could kill...
Effect: Used when someone is giving an intense, angry look, implying their stare is as powerful as a weapon.
To give (someone) the evil eye
Effect: To look at someone with malice or bad intent, as if wishing them harm.
To look daggers (at someone)
Effect: To look at someone with extreme anger or hatred.
A face like thunder
Effect: Describes someone who looks extremely angry or upset.
✨ For the "Public Scrutiny" Meaning
In the limelight
Effect: To be at the center of public attention (just like being in the "glare of publicity").
In the public eye
Effect: To be famous and constantly watched by the public and media.
Under the microscope
Effect: To be watched or examined very closely and critically.
Vocabulary-Based Stories from SEA
Source Information
Definition of glare from The Academic Glossary at Self Exploration Academy, a Urikville Press Publication. © All rights reserved.
