SKIP TO CONTENT

sparkling

sparklingly; sparklings

Something that's sparkling shines or glints with many little lights. You might say that the starry night sky is sparkling.

You can describe someone's eyes as sparkling, if they twinkle with light, or admire the sparkling lights on your friend's Christmas tree. Another way to use the adjective sparkling is to describe a carbonated beverage, like sparkling wine or sparkling cider. Any fizzy, bubbly drink is sparkling. People have used sparkling to describe wine and eyes since the fifteenth century, and it comes from the Old English spearca, "glowing or fiery particle thrown off."

Definitions of sparkling
  1. adjective
    shining with brilliant points of light like stars
    sparkling snow”
    sparkling eyes”
    Synonyms:
    starry
    abounding with or resembling stars
  2. adjective
    used of wines and waters; charged naturally or artificially with carbon dioxide
    sparkling water”
    synonyms: effervescent
    see moresee less
    Antonyms:
    noneffervescent, still
    not sparkling
  3. noun
    a rapid change in brightness; a brief spark or flash
    synonyms: scintillation, twinkle
    see moresee less
    type of:
    alteration, change, modification
    an event that occurs when something passes from one state or phase to another
DISCLAIMER: These example sentences appear in various news sources and books to reflect the usage of the word ‘sparkling'. Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Vocabulary.com or its editors. Send us feedback
Word Family
EDITOR'S CHOICE

Look up sparkling for the last time

Close your vocabulary gaps with personalized learning that focuses on teaching the words you need to know.

VocabTrainer - Vocabulary.com's Vocabulary Trainer