glider

noun

glid·​er ˈglī-dər How to pronounce glider (audio)
Synonyms of glidernext
1
: one that glides: such as
a
: an aircraft similar to an airplane but without an engine
b
: a porch seat suspended from an upright framework
2
: something that aids gliding

Examples of glider in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Stand on the left foot with the right foot placed on a glider or towel, feet hip-width apart. — Mallory Creveling, Health, 15 May 2026 This three-piece bistro set includes two comfortable gliders and a convenient side table that holds your snacks and beverages. — Stephanie Osmanski, Better Homes & Gardens, 26 June 2026 Below, discover more popular porch swings, gliders, and benches that instantly spruce up outdoor spaces. — Sian Babish, PEOPLE, 18 June 2026 Aren’t airplanes, helicopters, gliders, blimps, zeppelins, and rockets already doing a great job of moving people through the atmosphere? — New Atlas, 27 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for glider

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of glider was in the 15th century

Phrases Containing glider

Rhymes for glider

See All Rhymes for glider

Browse Nearby Words

glide plane
glider
gliderport
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Glider.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/glider. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

Copy Citation

Kids Definition

glider

noun
glid·​er ˈglīd-ər How to pronounce glider (audio)
1
: an aircraft without an engine that glides on air currents
2
: a porch seat suspended from a frame

More from Merriam-Webster on glider

Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for glider

Nglish: Translation of glider for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about glider

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

Is that lie 'bald-faced' or 'bold-faced'?

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?

Commonly Misspelled Words

How to Use Em Dashes (—), En Dashes (–) , and Hyphens (-)
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Longest Long Words List

One-Word Oxymorons: Bittersweet, Spendthrift, and More

Ten Words Ending with a Silent ‘T’

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World
See More

Popular

See More

Is that lie 'bald-faced' or 'bold-faced'?

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Longest Long Words List
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
hangman letters and game
Hangman Lightning Round Figure out which word fits in the blanks.
See All