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

This is the 10th anniversary of a season that makes people smile when they reminisce about all the personalities involved, all the images they saw, all the greatness that was on display.

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Besides, he added with a tired smile, if his methods weren’t effective, why did the Israelis arrest him?

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As each segment played, Rosenthal and the cast watched, fully absorbed with smiles across their faces, while the audience sat rapt, revisiting these cherished moments.

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His face is a conversation between his pleased smile and astonished eyes, expressions pushed just far enough into caricature to register as comic, but never so much as to violate the integrity of the character.

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For example, she passionately extols a program for free children’s dental services because a good smile leads to increased confidence, which statistics show can ultimately boost graduation rates.

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Related Words

• beam 
• grin 
• laugh 
• smirk