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• chin
  chin

  noun

  the lower extremity of the face, below the mouth.
• ch'in
  ch'in

  noun

  a Chinese zither consisting of an oblong, slightly curved wooden box over which are stretched strings that are stopped with one hand and plucked with the other.
• Chin
  Chin

  noun

  Also Tsin any of three dynasties that ruled in China, a.d. 265–316 (the Western Chin), a.d. 317–420 (the Eastern Chin), and a.d. 936–46 (the Later Chin).
• Ch'in
  Ch'in

  noun

  a dynasty in ancient China, 221–206 b.c., marked by the emergence of a unified empire and the construction of much of the Great Wall of China.
• Chin.
  Chin.

  abbreviation

  China.

chin

¹ American  

[chin] / tʃɪn /

noun

chins plural

1. the lower extremity of the face, below the mouth.

2. the prominence of the lower jaw.

3. Informal. chin-up.

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verb (used with object)

chins, present (3rd person singular) chinned, past participle, past chinning present participle

1. Gymnastics.

   1. to bring one's chin up to (a horizontal bar, from which one is hanging by the hands), by bending the elbows.

   2. to raise (oneself ) to this position.

2. to raise or hold to the chin, as a violin.

3. Archaic. to talk to; chatter with.

verb (used without object)

chins, present (3rd person singular) chinned, past participle, past chinning present participle

1. Gymnastics. to chin oneself.

2. Slang. to talk; chatter.

   We sat up all night chinning about our college days.

idioms

1. keep one's chin up, to maintain a cheerful disposition in spite of difficulties, disappointments, etc. Also chin up.

2. take it on the chin,

   1. to suffer defeat; fail completely.

   2. to endure suffering or punishment.

ch'in ² American  

[chin, cheen] / tʃɪn, tʃin /

noun

1. a Chinese zither consisting of an oblong, slightly curved wooden box over which are stretched strings that are stopped with one hand and plucked with the other.

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Chin ³ American  

[jin] / dʒɪn /

(Pinyin) Jin

noun

1. Also Tsin any of three dynasties that ruled in China, a.d. 265–316 (the Western Chin), a.d. 317–420 (the Eastern Chin), and a.d. 936–46 (the Later Chin).

2. a dynasty that ruled in China 1115–1234.

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Ch'in ⁴ American  

[chin, cheen] / tʃɪn, tʃin /

(Pinyin) Qin

noun

1. a dynasty in ancient China, 221–206 b.c., marked by the emergence of a unified empire and the construction of much of the Great Wall of China.

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Chin. ⁵ American  

Or Chin.

abbreviation

1. China.

2. Chinese.

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chin ¹ British  

/ tʃɪn /

noun

1. the protruding part of the lower jaw

2. the front part of the face below the lips

3. Sometimes shortened to: chin up!.  to keep cheerful under difficult circumstances

4. informal to face squarely up to a defeat, adversity, etc

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verb

1. gymnastics to raise one's chin to (a horizontal bar, etc) when hanging by the arms

2. informal (tr) to punch or hit (someone) on the chin

Chin. ² British  

abbreviation

1. China

2. Chinese

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chin More Idioms  

1. see keep one's chin up; lead with one's chin; take it on the chin.

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• underchin
  noun
• chinless
  adjective

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• chins
  plural

Participles

• chinning
  present
• chinned
  past

Conjugated Forms

Present

• chin
  simple
• chins
  simple
• have chinned
  perfect
• has chinned
  perfect
• am chinning
  progressive
• are chinning
  progressive
• is chinning
  progressive
• have been chinning
  perfect progressive
• has been chinning
  perfect progressive

Past

• chinned
  simple
• had chinned
  perfect
• was chinning
  progressive
• were chinning
  progressive
• had been chinning
  perfect progressive

Future

• will chin
  simple
• will have chinned
  perfect
• will be chinning
  progressive
• will have been chinning
  perfect progressive

Etymology

Origin of chin¹

before 1000; Middle English; Old English cin ( n ); cognate with Dutch kin, German Kinn chin, Old Norse kinn, Gothic kinnus cheek, Latin gena, Greek génus chin, gnáthos jaw ( see genial ², -gnathous), Sanskrit hanus jaw

Origin of ch'in²

From Chinese (Wade-Giles) ch'in2, (Pinyin) qín

Explanation

Your chin is the somewhat pointy part of your jaw at the bottom of your face, below your mouth. When a man has a bushy beard, it usually covers his cheeks and his chin. Humans are unique in having a chin — it's thought to have evolved in part from our habit of using speech. When chin is a verb, it means to do a pull up on an exercise bar, lifting your full weight until your chin touches the bar. In the late 16th century, to chin meant to affectionately rub chins with someone else, and in 1880s American slang, it also meant "to gossip."

Example Sentences

Zooming through the air in a flying Sky-Sled, he wedges his face into a triple chin.

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 3, 2026

Her son made it look so natural, quickly learning to catch the hacky sack between his chin and pop it onto the back of his leg.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 20, 2026

If you’re lucky, not too much of the medicine will wind up dripping down your adorable creature’s chin.

From Slate • May 17, 2026

The fighter, who was working in recruitment a decade ago, showed extraordinary chin and heart.

From BBC • May 9, 2026

I buried my face in Trey’s shoulder, and he rested his chin on top of my head.

From "Legendary Frybread Drive-In" by Cynthia Leitich Smith