gleamed

Gleamed is the past tense and past participle of the verb gleam. It describes the action of emitting or reflecting a small, bright light, or of appearing briefly luminous. In literal use, it often refers to light on a surface; in figurative use it can describe a spark of emotion in a face or a moment of visible brightness.

Examples of usage include: "The sun gleamed on the wet pavement," "Her eyes gleamed with mischief," and "A smile gleamed across his face." The word can refer to surfaces that reflect light, as well as to expressions, emotions, or moments that seem briefly illuminated or enhanced. The present participle form is gleaming, and the related noun form is gleam.

Etymology traces gleam to Old English and related Germanic roots for brightness and light, with the sense of a small or quick flash of light persisting as a core meaning. The term sits among related synonyms such as glitter, glimmer, and shine, though gleam often connotes a more restrained or momentary brightness, whether physical or metaphorical.