grin

1
[ grin ]
See synonyms for: gringrinnedgrinninggrins on Thesaurus.com

verb (used without object),grinned, grin·ning.
  1. to smile broadly, especially as an indication of pleasure, amusement, or the like.

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

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

verb (used with object),grinned, grin·ning.
  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.

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

Origin of grin

1
First recorded before 1000; Middle English grinnen, grennen, Old English grennian; cognate with Old High German grennan “to mutter”

synonym study For grin

1. See laugh.

Other words for grin

Opposites for grin

Other words from grin

  • grinner, noun
  • grin·ning·ly, adverb

Words Nearby grin

Other definitions for grin (2 of 2)

grin2
[ grin ]

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

verb (used with object),grinned, grin·ning.
  1. Archaic. to catch in a nooselike snare.

Origin of grin

2
First recorded before 900; Middle English grin(e), grinne, Old English grin, gryn

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use grin in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for grin

grin

/ (ɡrɪn) /


verbgrins, grinning or grinned
  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

  1. grin and bear it informal to suffer trouble or hardship without complaint

noun
  1. a broad smile

  2. a snarl or grimace

Origin of grin

1
Old English grennian; related to Old High German grennen to snarl, Old Norse grenja to howl; see grunt

Derived forms of grin

  • grinner, noun
  • grinning, adjective, noun

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012