Definition

Verb: - To look at or read something quickly and superficially, without giving it one's full attention or examining it in detail.

Usage

This verb describes the action of reviewing material rapidly to get a general sense of its content. It implies a cursory or preliminary look, not an in-depth study. It is often used when someone is checking for specific information, verifying a general impression, or lacks the time for a thorough examination.

Examples

Advanced Usage

• "to glance one's eye over something": A more formal or literary phrasing with the same meaning.
  • He glanced his eye over the manuscript, searching for any obvious errors.

Variants and Related Words

• Scan (verb): To look over quickly, often systematically. (e.g., )
• Skim (verb): To read or look over something quickly to grasp the main ideas. (e.g., )
• Browse (verb): To look through something in a casual, leisurely way. (e.g., )

Synonyms

• Peruse (though "peruse" can also mean to read carefully, in modern usage it often means to read quickly).
• Look over.
• Run one's eye over.

Related Phrasal Verbs

• Glance through: Very similar to "glance over," often used for written material like books or documents.
  • I glanced through the manual but couldn't find the troubleshooting section.

Related Idioms

• Give something a once-over: To examine something quickly.
  • Give the car a once-over before we buy it.

Verb

1. examine hastily
   • She scanned the newspaper headlines while waiting for the taxi