When something glistens, it shines with a wet or moist sparkle. Morning dew glistens on spider webs, sweat glistens on an athlete's forehead after a hard race, and fresh snow glistens in the sunlight like a field of tiny diamonds.

The word often describes a shine that comes from moisture or wetness. A polished mirror shines, but an icy sidewalk glistens because of its wet, frozen surface. Your eyes might glisten with tears when you're moved by something beautiful or sad. A freshly washed car glistens in the driveway, covered with tiny water droplets that catch the light.

Glisten usually suggests something fresh, clean, or beautiful. Writers often use it to create vivid images: “Her hair glistened with raindrops” paints a much clearer picture than simply saying “Her hair was wet.” When you notice something glistening, you're seeing how light dances off its moist surface, creating that distinctive sparkle that can make ordinary things look magical, at least for a moment.