smile

[smahyl]

verb (used without object)

smiled, smiling 

1. 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

2. to regard with favor.

   Luck smiled on us that night.

3. to have a pleasant or agreeable appearance or aspect, as natural scenes, objects, etc..

   The landscape smiled in the sunlight.

verb (used with object)

smiled, smiling 

1. to assume or give (a smile, especially of a given kind).

   She smiled a warm and friendly smile.

2. to express by a smile.

   to smile approval.

3. to bring, put, drive, etc., by or as by smiling.

   to smile one's tears away.

noun

1. the act or an instance of smiling; a smiling expression of the face.

   Antonyms: frown

2. favor or kindly regard.

   fortune's smile.

3. a pleasant or agreeable appearance, look, or aspect.

verb phrase

1. smile at

   1. to regard with pleasure or amusement, as with a smile.

   2. to regard with mild derision.

      to smile at someone's affectations.

smile

/ smaɪl /

noun

1. a facial expression characterized by an upturning of the corners of the mouth, usually showing amusement, friendliness, etc, but sometimes scorn, etc

2. favour or blessing

   the smile of fortune

3. an agreeable appearance

verb

1. (intr) to wear or assume a smile

2. 1. to look (at) with a kindly or amused expression

   2. to look derisively (at) instead of being annoyed

   3. to bear (troubles, etc) patiently

3. (intr; foll by on or upon) to show approval; bestow a blessing

4. (tr) to express by means of a smile

   she smiled a welcome

5. to drive away or change by smiling

   smile away one's tears

6. to recover cheerfully from misfortune

Other Word Forms

• smileless adjective
• smilelessly adverb
• smilelessness noun
• smiler noun
• smilingly adverb
• half-smiling adjective
• half-smilingly adverb
• outsmile verb (used with object)
• subsmile noun
• unsmiling adjective
• unsmilingly adverb
• smiling adjective
• smilingness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of smile¹

First recorded in 1250–1300; Middle English smyllen (verb); cognate with Old High German smīlan, Danish smile

Word History and Origins

Origin of smile¹

C13: probably of Scandinavian origin; compare Swedish smila, Danish smile; related to Middle High German smielen

Idioms and Phrases

• crack a smile

Synonym Study

See laugh.

Example Sentences

But in the new series, she admits there's a deeper reason as to why she never smiles.

Read more on BBC

With their warm smiles, branded shirts and cabinets full of jewellery behind them, Eileen and Patrick are the perfect image of a successful husband and wife team.

Read more on BBC

His gestures, his anger, his resistance all emerge from living in a context that demands he smile while being insulted.

Read more on BBC

Partly whimsical: I let myself notice the little, absurd sparks of autumn that made me smile.

Read more on Salon

The women smile and joke as they talk, but they are also quite serious.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• beam 
• grin 
• laugh 
• smirk