Meaning & use
twinkled
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“twinkled” is a form of “twinkle”. See that entry for the full set of meanings.
Meanings
verbintransitive
Past tense of twinkle: shone with a small, quick, flickering light.
Grammar: No object: the stars twinkled.
Patterns
- twinkle in something
The stars twinkled above the quiet village.
Fairy lights twinkled along the garden fence.
City lights twinkled in the distance.
verbintransitivefigurative
Looked bright and lively with amusement or kindness, used of the eyes.
Grammar: Subject is usually eyes: her eyes twinkled.
Patterns
- eyes twinkled with something
His eyes twinkled with mischief as he told the joke.
Grandma's eyes twinkled when she saw the cake.
Her eyes twinkled with laughter.
Word forms
| base form | twinkle |
|---|---|
| third person singular | twinkles |
| -ing form | twinkling |
Common combinations
- stars twinkled
- The stars twinkled like diamonds.
- eyes twinkled
- His eyes twinkled behind his glasses.
- twinkled with mischief
- She twinkled with mischief.
- twinkled in the dark
- Fireflies twinkled in the dark.
Synonyms and how they differ
- sparkled
- Sparkled suggests brighter, sharper flashes, while twinkled is softer and quicker.
- glittered
- Glittered often suggests a hard, cold shine of metal or jewels.
- shimmered
- Shimmered describes a soft wavering light, such as water, not tiny flashes.
- flickered
- Flickered describes unsteady light that may almost go out, like a candle.
Opposites
Word family
Commonly confused: twinkled or wrinkled?
twinkled vs wrinkled
Wrinkled means having creases, and it is not related to light.
Practice
On a clear night, thousands of stars ______ above the camp.
Choose one answer.
Stars give small flickering light, which is twinkled. Tinkled is about a light ringing sound.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “twinkled”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.