What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
glide
Example
The eagle glided effortlessly through the sky. [glided: past tense]
Example
She glided across the ice rink with ease. [glided: verb]
slide
Example
The children had fun sliding down the playground slide. [sliding: gerund or present participle]
Example
The car slid down the icy hill and crashed into a tree. [slid: past tense]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Slide is more commonly used than glide in everyday language. Slide is versatile and covers a wide range of contexts, while glide is less common and often used in specific contexts, such as ice skating or aviation.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between glide and slide?
While glide is typically associated with a formal and technical tone, slide is more versatile and can be employed in various formality levels, allowing it to be used in both formal and informal contexts.