smile
Americanverb (used without object)
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to assume a facial expression indicating pleasure, favor, or amusement, but sometimes derision or scorn, characterized by an upturning of the corners of the mouth.
- Antonyms:
- frown
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to regard with favor.
Luck smiled on us that night.
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to have a pleasant or agreeable appearance or aspect, as natural scenes, objects, etc..
The landscape smiled in the sunlight.
verb (used with object)
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to assume or give (a smile, especially of a given kind).
She smiled a warm and friendly smile.
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to express by a smile.
to smile approval.
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to bring, put, drive, etc., by or as by smiling.
to smile one's tears away.
noun
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the act or an instance of smiling; a smiling expression of the face.
- Antonyms:
- frown
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favor or kindly regard.
fortune's smile.
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a pleasant or agreeable appearance, look, or aspect.
verb phrase
noun
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a facial expression characterized by an upturning of the corners of the mouth, usually showing amusement, friendliness, etc, but sometimes scorn, etc
-
favour or blessing
the smile of fortune
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an agreeable appearance
verb
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(intr) to wear or assume a smile
-
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to look (at) with a kindly or amused expression
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to look derisively (at) instead of being annoyed
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to bear (troubles, etc) patiently
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(intr; foll by on or upon) to show approval; bestow a blessing
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(tr) to express by means of a smile
she smiled a welcome
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to drive away or change by smiling
smile away one's tears
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to recover cheerfully from misfortune
Synonym Usage
See laugh.
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
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outsmileverb (used with object)
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smilingadjective
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smilinglyadverb
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unsmilingadjective
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subsmilenoun
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smilelesslyadverb
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unsmilinglyadverb
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half-smilinglyadverb
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smilingnessnoun
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half-smilingadjective
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smilernoun
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smilelessadjective
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smilelessnessnoun
Conjugated Forms
Present
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have smiledperfect
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has smiledperfect 3rd person singular
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has been smilingperfect progressive 3rd person singular
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am smilingprogressive 1st person singular
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are smilingprogressive
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is smilingprogressive 3rd person singular
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smilingparticiple
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have been smilingperfect progressive
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smilessingular 3rd person
Past
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had smiledperfect
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was smilingprogressive singular
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smiledsimple
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had been smilingperfect progressive
-
smiledparticiple
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were smilingprogressive plural
Future
Etymology
Origin of smile
First recorded in 1250–1300; Middle English smyllen (verb); cognate with Old High German smīlan, Danish smile
Explanation
Smile is the thing you do with your face when you are happy -– or want others to think you are. Your expression softens and your mouth turns up at the corners. Smile, noun or verb, with its universal message and association with enjoyment and pleasure, is a very useful word. It can express joy or even say hello. Of course if you “smile through your sorrows,” you are either tying to make yourself feel better or fool other people into thinking you are happy. But in general, a smile is a good sign. And as the song goes “You’re never fully dressed without a smile.”
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
"He had a big, broad smile on his face and I thought, 'Oh that's good. He must have remembered some Shakespeare quotes'," Cullen said.
From BBC • Jun. 9, 2026
“He talks a lot of trash,” Dodgers strength and conditioning coach Travis Smith told The Times this week, with a smile.
From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 5, 2026
It’s the big band sound that makes you smile and want to get up and dance with captivating lyrics that always leave you wanting more.
From Salon • Jun. 5, 2026
Even when they’re shrugging off his sins with a smile, his old bandmates have to give him that.
From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 4, 2026
Clouds float while sunlight as wide as God’s smile shines.
From "Will’s Race for Home" by Jewell Parker Rhodes
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
