English vocabulary · B2
Glean
/ɡliːn/ · v.
It means to slowly gather small bits of useful information from different places.
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Example sentences
- She gleaned the truth from his short answers.
- He gleaned key facts from old records.
Word origin and roots
from Old French
- glean — gather (from Old French)
Synonyms and nuances
- COLLECT — bring things together (General & Broad)
- GATHER — pull things into one place (Physical & Active)
- EXTRACT — pull out specific parts (Forceful & Precise)
Similar words
- collect
- gather
- extract
Lesson notes
Glean. It means to slowly gather small bits of useful information from different places.
Similar words are collect, gather, and extract. Use glean when you find small useful pieces with effort.
She gleaned the truth from his short answers. He gleaned key facts from old records.
From Old French. Glean- means gather. Picking up what others missed — that is to glean.