smile

[ smahyl ]

/ smaɪl /

See synonyms for: smile / smiled / smiles / smiling on Thesaurus.com

verb (used without object), smiled, smil·ing.

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.

to regard with favor: Luck smiled on us that night.

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, smil·ing.

to assume or give (a smile, especially of a given kind): She smiled a warm and friendly smile.

to express by a smile: to smile approval.

to bring, put, drive, etc., by or as by smiling: to smile one's tears away.

noun

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

favor or kindly regard: fortune's smile.

a pleasant or agreeable appearance, look, or aspect.

Verb Phrases

smile at,

to regard with pleasure or amusement, as with a smile.
to regard with mild derision: to smile at someone's affectations.

ANTONYMS FOR smile

1, 7 frown.

See antonyms for smile on Thesaurus.com

QUIZZES

DISCOVER THE INFLUENCE OF PORTUGUESE ON ENGLISH VIA THIS QUIZ!

We’ve gathered some interesting words donated to English from Portuguese … as well as some that just don’t translate at all. Do you know what they mean?

Question 1 of 11

Which of the following animal names traces its immediate origin to Portuguese?

owl

crow

piranha

TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

Origin of smile

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

synonym study for smile

1, 7. See laugh.

OTHER WORDS FROM smile

smileless, adjectivesmile·less·ly, adverbsmile·less·ness, nounsmiler, noun

smil·ing·ly, adverbhalf-smiling, adjectivehalf-smil·ing·ly, adverboutsmile, verb (used with object), out·smiled, out·smil·ing.sub·smile, nounun·smil·ing, adjectiveun·smil·ing·ly, adverb

Words nearby smile

SMH, smidge, smidgen, smilacaceous, smilax, smile, smile on, Smiles, smiley, smilodon, smir

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2021

Example sentences from the Web for smile

Stephen Colbert probably won’t change anyone’s mind, but if any host on TV is going to say with a smile that he’s mad as hell and he’s not going to take this anymore, it’s him.
One Good Thing: Stephen Colbert is looser, funnier, and angrier in quarantine|Emily VanDerWerff|September 4, 2020|Vox
At home, you are startled anew at the strange face staring back at you, its tight smile melding into the regard of two mysterious eyes.
The first murder|Katie McLean|August 19, 2020|MIT Technology Review
Drag artists are always some of the first to adapt to any circumstance or hardship, and we have proved our place as essential entertainment over the past few months by constantly working to bring a smile to people’s faces against any and all odds.
Queens of ‘Drive ’N Drag’ roaring into town|John Paul King|August 12, 2020|Washington Blade
For those living in poor communities in particular, interactions with police rarely come with good news and a smile.
How to Solve the Policing Crisis|Keli Goff|January 5, 2015|DAILY BEAST

At this point Marvin gives his Liberty Valance smile, the kind that makes you wish you could disintegrate in front of him.
The Story Behind Lee Marvin’s Liberty Valance Smile|Robert Ward|January 3, 2015|DAILY BEAST
Nobody terrified audiences with a smile as well as Lee Marvin.
The Story Behind Lee Marvin’s Liberty Valance Smile|Robert Ward|January 3, 2015|DAILY BEAST
Two years ago, a Party apparatchik surveyed the site of a fatal traffic accident… with a smile on his face.
China’s Internet Is Freer Than You Think|Brendon Hong|December 27, 2014|DAILY BEAST
“A few words and we fell in love,” she says, the smile of her teenage years returning to her face.
A Sunni-Shia Love Story Imperiled by al Qaeda|Ruth Michaelson|December 26, 2014|DAILY BEAST
I think I have heard Captain Burton say that he had irregular teeth, which made his smile unpleasant.
The Atlantic Monthly, Vol. 13, No. 78, April, 1864|Various
Let us smile at the heavy seriousness of those who suppose that this man meant everything he said.
Philosophy and The Social Problem|Will Durant
She had the smile called wide, and it lit up her whole face with rare flashes of dormant humor.
The Girl Scouts at Camp Comalong|Lillian Garis
They would die for a smile from Csar, gazing at him with eyes of childlike adoration.
The Death of the Gods|Dmitri Mrejkowski
With a smile, and many renewed expressions of thankfulness, the hopeful tradesman paid his penny.
Harper's New Monthly Magazine, Vol. III, No. XVII, October 1851|Various

British Dictionary definitions for smile

smile

/ (smaɪl) /

noun

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

favour or blessingthe smile of fortune

an agreeable appearance

verb

(intr) to wear or assume a smile

(intr foll by at)

to look (at) with a kindly or amused expression
to look derisively (at) instead of being annoyed
to bear (troubles, etc) patiently

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

(tr) to express by means of a smileshe smiled a welcome

(tr often foll by away) to drive away or change by smilingsmile away one's tears

come up smiling to recover cheerfully from misfortune

Derived forms of smile

smiler, nounsmiling, adjectivesmilingly, adverbsmilingness, noun

Word Origin for smile

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

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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smile

verb (used without object), smiled, smil·ing.

verb (used with object), smiled, smil·ing.

noun

Verb Phrases

ANTONYMS FOR smile

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Origin of smile

synonym study for smile

OTHER WORDS FROM smile

Words nearby smile

Example sentences from the Web for smile

British Dictionary definitions for smile

noun

verb

Derived forms of smile

Word Origin for smile

Idioms and Phrases with smile

MEANINGS

WORD GAMES

LEARN

WRITING

WORD OF THE DAY

smile

verb (used without object), smiled, smil·ing.

verb (used with object), smiled, smil·ing.

noun

Verb Phrases

ANTONYMS FOR smile

QUIZZES

DISCOVER THE INFLUENCE OF PORTUGUESE ON ENGLISH VIA THIS QUIZ!

Origin of smile

synonym study for smile

OTHER WORDS FROM smile

Words nearby smile

Words related to smile

Example sentences from the Web for smile

British Dictionary definitions for smile

noun

verb

Derived forms of smile

Word Origin for smile

Idioms and Phrases with smile