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smile

[smahyl]
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verb (used without object), smiled, smil·ing.
  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.
  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.
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verb (used with object), smiled, smil·ing.
  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.
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noun
  1. the act or an instance of smiling; a smiling expression of the face.
  2. favor or kindly regard: fortune's smile.
  3. a pleasant or agreeable appearance, look, or aspect.
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Verb Phrases
  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.
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Origin of smile

1250–1300; Middle English smyllen (v.); cognate with Old High German smīlan, Danish smile
Related formssmile·less, adjectivesmile·less·ly, adverbsmile·less·ness, nounsmil·er, nounsmil·ing·ly, adverbhalf-smil·ing, adjectivehalf-smil·ing·ly, adverbout·smile, verb (used with object), out·smiled, out·smil·ing.sub·smile, nounun·smil·ing, adjectiveun·smil·ing·ly, adverb

Synonyms

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1, 7. See laugh.

Antonyms

1, 7. frown.
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Related Words

smirklaughgrinbeamsimper

Examples from the Web for smile

Contemporary Examples

Historical Examples

  • When he came, Paralus looked upon him with a smile of recognition, and said, "My father!"

    Philothea

    Lydia Maria Child

  • With a nod and a smile, Aspasia said, "Continue the music, I pray you."

    Philothea

    Lydia Maria Child

  • “Fair and softly,” said the printer with something of a smile.

    The Armourer's Prentices

    Charlotte M. Yonge

  • Of course he's suffering, my dear—but look at the smile on him!

    A Night Out

    Edward Peple

  • But Viviette regarded him with a smile--the smile of woman's superior wisdom.

    Viviette

    William J. Locke

British Dictionary definitions for smile

smile

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 blessingthe smile of fortune
  3. an agreeable appearance
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verb
  1. (intr) to wear or assume a smile
  2. (intr foll by at)
    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 smileshe smiled a welcome
  5. (tr often foll by away) to drive away or change by smilingsmile away one's tears
  6. come up smiling to recover cheerfully from misfortune
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Derived Formssmiler, nounsmiling, adjectivesmilingly, adverbsmilingness, noun

Word Origin

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

Word Origin and History for smile

v.

c.1300, perhaps from Middle Low German *smilen or a Scandinavian source (e.g. Danish smile "smile," Swedish smila "smile, smirk, simper, fawn"), from Proto-Germanic *smil-, extended form of PIE root *smei- "to laugh, smile" (cf. Old English smerian "to laugh at, scorn," Old High German smieron "to smile," Latin mirus "wonderful," mirari "to wonder"). Related: Smiled; smiling.

Gradually pushed the usual Old English word, smearcian (modern smirk), into a specific, unpleasant sense. Of the eyes, from 1759. Figuratively, as indicating favor or encouragement, from c.1400. Romance, Celtic, and Slavic languages tend to use a diminutive of the word for "laugh" to mean "smile" (e.g. Latin ridere "laugh;" subridere "smile"), perhaps literally "small laugh" or "low laugh."

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n.

1560s, from smile (v.).

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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper

Idioms and Phrases with smile

smile

In addition to the idiom beginning with smile

  • smile on

also see:

  • crack a smile
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The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.