wink
1to close and open one eye quickly as a hint or signal or with some sly meaning (often followed by at): She winked at him across the room.
to shine with little flashes of light; twinkle: The city lights winked in the distance.
to close and open one or both eyes quickly.
to signal or convey by closing and opening one eye quickly: Wink one eye if you need help later.
to close and open (one or both eyes) quickly.
to drive or force by opening and closing the eyes rapidly (usually followed by back or away): She attempted to wink back the tears.
a winking movement, especially of one eye in giving a hint or signal:I gave the judges a wink of my eye to show my confidence.
a hint or signal given by closing and opening one eye rapidly: Her wink assured me the plan was still on.
an act of closing and opening one eye rapidly.
the time required for closing and opening the eyes once; an instant or twinkling: I'll be there in a wink.
a little flash of light; twinkle.
the least bit: I didn't sleep a wink last night.
wink at, to ignore deliberately, as to avoid the necessity of taking action: to wink at minor offenses.
Origin of wink
1synonym study For wink
Other words for wink
Other words from wink
- wink·ing·ly, adverb
- un·wink·ing, adjective
Other definitions for wink (2 of 2)
a disk or similar small object used in tiddlywinks.
Origin of wink
2Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024
How to use wink in a sentence
Google sleep pods and Zappos’ aquarium-outfitted massage chairs aside, most offices aren’t exactly designed to encourage a quick forty winks.
Why you shouldn’t feel guilty for napping while working at home | Sarah Todd | September 20, 2020 | QuartzThere are plenty of other vigilantes interested in torturing gay men with the winking semi-approval of the authorities.
There was another funny tweet about you winking at your crush… do you have a celebrity crush?
‘Game of Thrones’ Star Maisie Williams on Arya Stark’s S4 Journey and Her Crush on Andrew Garfield | Marlow Stern | June 23, 2014 | THE DAILY BEASTWho knows how much of that kind of winking is taking place on the House floor now?
The House GOP’s Down-Low, Backhanded Endorsement of Obamacare | Michael Tomasky | April 7, 2014 | THE DAILY BEASTBut with winking acquiescence, the FDA, though nominally still watching over shoulders, more or less disappeared.
New Study Says Doctors Can’t “Just Say No” to Their Patients | Kent Sepkowitz | March 31, 2014 | THE DAILY BEAST
When Ben Stiller showed up in full blue Navi makeup in 2010 to mock Avatar, the winking frivolity of it all was hysterical.
The fear of Ormonde kept some quiet, but in his absence their enforced frowns at the rebels were changed to winking.
Ireland Under the Tudors, Vol. II (of 3) | Richard Bagwell"I don't hanker much after the dry job of pumping the colonel," he added, winking at Clifford significantly.
A Fortune Hunter; Or, The Old Stone Corral | John Dunloe Carteret"You'll 'put me up' till I'm clean gone," said Joe, winking to himself, as he followed his lively wife.
St. Nicholas, Vol. 5, No. 5, March, 1878 | Various"You are not to break your neighbors' windows, for instance," replied Aleck, winking at Carl.
The Story of the Big Front Door | Mary Finley LeonardI am accounted as brave as maist folks; and yet I profess to ye I could never look on a bare blade without blinking and winking.
The Fortunes of Nigel | Sir Walter Scott
British Dictionary definitions for wink (1 of 2)
/ (wɪŋk) /
(intr) to close and open one eye quickly, deliberately, or in an exaggerated fashion to convey friendliness, etc
to close and open (an eye or the eyes) momentarily
(tr; foll by away, back, etc) to force away (tears, etc) by winking
(tr) to signal with a wink
(intr) (of a light) to gleam or flash intermittently
a winking movement, esp one conveying a signal, etc, or such a signal
an interrupted flashing of light
a brief moment of time; instant
informal the smallest amount, esp of sleep: See also forty winks
tip the wink British informal to give a hint
Origin of wink
1British Dictionary definitions for wink (2 of 2)
/ (wɪŋk) /
a disc used in the game of tiddlywinks
Origin of wink
2Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
Other Idioms and Phrases with wink
In addition to the idiom beginning with wink
- wink at
also see:
- forty winks
- quick as a wink
- sleep a wink
The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
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