Sparkle means to shine with quick, bright flashes of light, like sunlight dancing on water or a diamond catching the light as someone moves their hand. When something sparkles, it doesn't glow steadily like a lamp. Instead, it gives off tiny bursts of brightness that seem to dance and twinkle.

Snow sparkles on a sunny winter morning because ice crystals reflect light at different angles. A sequined costume sparkles under stage lights. Your eyes might sparkle when you're excited or happy, catching the light in a way that shows your enthusiasm.

The word can also describe someone's personality or performance. When people say a performer sparkled in a school play, they mean she was especially lively, energetic, and captivating. A student's essay might sparkle with creativity and clever ideas. In this sense, sparkle suggests something extra special, a quality that makes something or someone stand out and catch attention, just like those flashes of light.

As a noun, a sparkle is one of those quick flashes of light, or a lively, exciting quality. You might see sparkles on the surface of a lake, or notice a sparkle in someone's eyes.

The related word sparkly describes things that sparkle: sparkly nail polish, a sparkly dress, or sparkly decorations.