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The Grainy History of Glean
While it is certainly true that one must reap what one sows (that is, harvest the crops that one plants), what should be done about the grain and other produce left over that the reapers missed? Well, friends, that must be gleaned—waste not, want not, after all. It’s a finicky business, too, picking through stalks and under leaves and whatnot. When it was first used in English in the 14th century, glean carried both the sense of “to gather grain or other produce left by reapers” and the more figurative meaning of “to gather information or material bit by bit,” reflecting the slow, gradual, painstaking work of scouring the fields. Over the years, and especially in the 20th and 21st centuries, glean has also come to be used frequently with the meaning “to find out, learn, ascertain.” This sense has been criticized by folks who think glean should always imply the drudgery involved in the literal grain-gathering sense, but it is well established and perfectly valid.
Examples of glean in a Sentence
Smithsonian Magazine, 10 Jan. 2025
Results were gleaned from surveys sent to thousands of Idaho residents aged 18 and older who have bought big-game and predator hunting licenses in the past 3 to 5 years.
—Andrew McKean, Outdoor Life, 10 Jan. 2025
The information gleaned from users will create a feedback loop to help advertisers further refine their targeting strategies, leading to more personalized consumer experiences.
—Jon Kirchner, Forbes, 10 Jan. 2025
She’s also gleaned advice from former Golden Globes hosts, including Ricky Gervais, a five-time emcee.
—Lisa Gutierrez, Kansas City Star, 4 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for glean 
Dictionary Entries Near glean
Cite this Entry
“Glean.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/glean. Accessed 23 Jan. 2025.
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glean
verb
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