# sparkle

/ˈspɑɹkəɫ/ (US) · /spˈɑːkəl/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/sparkle
Updated: 2026-08-08

## Senses

### 1. to shine with flashes

verb · CEFR B1

to shine with many small, bright points of light.

For teachers: to emit or reflect small, bright flashes of light; to scintillate.

- The ocean started to sparkle as the sun came out from behind the clouds.
- The fresh snow began to sparkle under the moonlight, creating a brilliant landscape that looked almost artificial in its perfection.

### 2. to show personality

verb · CEFR B2

to be very lively, interesting, or funny in a social situation.

For teachers: to manifest vivacity, wit, or intelligence in a social or intellectual context.

- She always sparkles at parties because she tells such great stories.
- The lead actress truly sparkles in this role, bringing a level of wit and energy that elevates the entire production.

### 3. to be fizzy

verb · CEFR B2

to have many small bubbles of gas, like soda or champagne.

For teachers: to emit small bubbles of gas; to effervesce.

- The mineral water began to sparkle as soon as he poured it into the glass.
- The cider will sparkle naturally if it is bottled before the fermentation process has completely finished.

### 4. bright light

noun · CEFR B1

a small, bright flash of light.

For teachers: a small, bright point or flash of light; a scintillation.

- There was a tiny sparkle in the diamond when it caught the light.
- The jeweler pointed out the exceptional sparkle of the gem, noting how the precision of the cut maximized its light return.

### 5. liveliness

noun · CEFR B2

a quality of being exciting, energetic, or bright.

For teachers: an animated or vivacious quality in a person's character or performance.

- The teacher's eyes had a friendly sparkle whenever she told a joke.
- Despite the serious subject matter, the script was written with a certain sparkle that kept the audience engaged throughout the evening.

## Examples

- The ocean waves sparkle under the bright morning sun.
- The freshly fallen snow began to sparkle as the clouds cleared and the afternoon light hit the fields.
- The ballroom was filled with guests whose jewelry seemed to sparkle more intensely as the chandeliers were dimmed for the final dance of the evening.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.