# shimmer

> English word · Verb · IPA /ˈʃɪm.ə(ɹ)/ · frequency rank #29,834

## Definitions
1. To shine tremulously or intermittently; to gleam faintly.
2. Of a mass of bees: to move their abdomens in a coordinated manner so as to produce a shimmering wave effect, thought to deter predators.

## Etymology
From Middle English schimeren, from Old English sċymrian, sċimrian, sċimerian, from Proto-Germanic *skimarōną. Cognate with Dutch schemeren, German schimmern.

## Easily confused with
- **summer** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/shimmer-vs-summer)
- **simmer** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/shimmer-vs-simmer)
- **shiver** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/shimmer-vs-shiver)
- **Sommer** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/shimmer-vs-sommer)
- **shimmy** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/shimmer-vs-shimmy)
- **shiner** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/shimmer-vs-shiner)
- **swimmer** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/shimmer-vs-swimmer)
- **shipper** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/shimmer-vs-shipper)
- **slimmer** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/shimmer-vs-slimmer)
- **swimmers** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/shimmer-vs-swimmers)
- **shifter** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/shifter-vs-shimmer)
- **scammer** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/scammer-vs-shimmer)

## Common misspellings (9)
`hsimmer`, `shhimmer`, `shimemr`, `shimer`, `shimmerr`, `shimmre`, `shmimer`, `sihmmer`, `sshimmer`

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/shimmer