1 B1 neutral
To read or examine something quickly without paying attention to every detail.
"She glanced over the contract before signing, but missed the crucial clause."
inseparable
glance over
B1 neutral inseparable transitive
To read or examine something quickly and without much attention to detail.
In plain English
To look at something briefly without reading it carefully.
What does "glance over" mean?
2 meanings, ordered from most common to least. Color-coded by CEFR level.
2 B1 neutral
To look quickly at a person or place.
"He glanced over at his friend as the teacher read out the exam results."
inseparable
Literal vs figurative
Words literally mean
To look briefly across something — mostly transparent.
Actually means
To look at something briefly without reading it carefully.
Usage tip
Common in both spoken and written English. Often used when someone wants to check that something looks correct without reading every word. Also used for physically casting a brief glance across a space or scene.
Words that pair with "glance over"
Natural word combinations native speakers use most often.
document report notes headline menu room
How to conjugate "glance over"
The five tense forms you'll use most often.
Base
glance over
I/you/we/they
3rd person
glances over
he/she/it
Past simple
glanced over
yesterday
Past participle
glanced over
have + pp
-ing form
glancing over
continuous
Hear "glance over" in the wild
Listen to native speakers using "glance over" in real YouTube videos — click a clip to watch it on Looplines.
Keep exploring
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