grin

¹ American  

[grin] / grɪn /

verb (used without object)

grinned, grinning

1. to smile broadly, especially as an indication of pleasure, amusement, or the like.

   Synonyms:

   crack a smile, smirk, smile, beam

   Antonyms:

   glare, frown

2. to draw back the lips so as to show the teeth, as a snarling dog or a person in pain.

3. to show or be exposed through an opening, crevice, etc.

---

verb (used with object)

grinned, grinning

1. to express or produce by grinning.

   The little boy grinned his approval of the gift.

noun

1. a broad smile.

2. the act of producing a broad smile.

3. the act of withdrawing the lips and showing the teeth, as in anger or pain.

grin ² American  

[grin] / grɪn /

noun

1. Chiefly Scot. a snare like a running noose.

---

verb (used with object)

grinned, grinning

1. Archaic. to catch in a nooselike snare.

grin British  

/ ɡrɪn /

verb

1. to smile with the lips drawn back revealing the teeth or express (something) by such a smile

   to grin a welcome

2. (intr) to draw back the lips revealing the teeth, as in a snarl or grimace

3. informal to suffer trouble or hardship without complaint

---

noun

1. a broad smile

2. a snarl or grimace

Related Words

See laugh.

Other Word Forms

• grinner noun
• grinning adjective
• grinningly adverb

Etymology

Origin of grin¹

First recorded before 1000; Middle English grinnen, grennen, Old English grennian; cognate with Old High German grennan “to mutter”

Origin of grin²

First recorded before 900; Middle English grin(e), grinne, Old English grin, gryn

Example Sentences

Clad in an apron, Curtis scoops a Whopper off a kitchen counter, takes a large bite and nods to nearby colleagues, with sauce and a wide grin on his lips.

From The Wall Street Journal

‘Found it!’ she says, holding a key in the air and grinning at me.

From Literature

“Shall we eat it here?” he asked, grinning, his red hair a mop on his forehead.

From Literature

She wore a yellow knit beanie, gold hoop earrings and the relieved grin of a woman who has finally checked a mammogram off her to-do list.

From Los Angeles Times

I grinned and leaned forward as two other players joined our party.

From Literature

Related Words

• smirk