glimmer

/ˈgli-mər/

Middle English glimeren; akin to Old English glǣm gleam

verb

  1. to shine faintly or unsteadily

  2. to give off a subdued unsteady reflection

  3. to appear indistinctly with a faintly luminous quality

The candles glimmered in the windows.

Her white satin dress glimmered in the dusk.

flash gleam glint sparkle glitter glisten glimmer shimmer mean to send forth light. flash implies a sudden outburst of bright light. gleam suggests a steady light seen through an obscuring medium or against a dark background.

noun

  1. a feeble or intermittent light

  2. a subdued unsteady shining or sparkle

  3. a dim perception or faint idea : inkling

the first glimmer of dawn

noun phrase

  1. a small sign : a small chance

The doctor says there's a glimmer/ray of hope that he'll improve.