smile
Americanverb (used without object)
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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
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to regard with favor.
Luck smiled on us that night.
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to have a pleasant or agreeable appearance or aspect, as natural scenes, objects, etc..
The landscape smiled in the sunlight.
verb (used with object)
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to assume or give (a smile, especially of a given kind).
She smiled a warm and friendly smile.
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to express by a smile.
to smile approval.
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to bring, put, drive, etc., by or as by smiling.
to smile one's tears away.
noun
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the act or an instance of smiling; a smiling expression of the face.
- Antonyms:
- frown
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favor or kindly regard.
fortune's smile.
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a pleasant or agreeable appearance, look, or aspect.
verb phrase
noun
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a facial expression characterized by an upturning of the corners of the mouth, usually showing amusement, friendliness, etc, but sometimes scorn, etc
-
favour or blessing
the smile of fortune
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an agreeable appearance
verb
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(intr) to wear or assume a smile
-
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to look (at) with a kindly or amused expression
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to look derisively (at) instead of being annoyed
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to bear (troubles, etc) patiently
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(intr; foll by on or upon) to show approval; bestow a blessing
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(tr) to express by means of a smile
she smiled a welcome
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to drive away or change by smiling
smile away one's tears
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to recover cheerfully from misfortune
Synonym Usage
See laugh.
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
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smilelessnessnoun
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smilernoun
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smilingnessnoun
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subsmilenoun
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half-smilingadjective
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smilelessadjective
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smilingadjective
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unsmilingadjective
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half-smilinglyadverb
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smilelesslyadverb
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smilinglyadverb
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unsmilinglyadverb
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
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smilesimple
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smilessimple
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have smiledperfect
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has smiledperfect
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am smilingprogressive
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are smilingprogressive
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is smilingprogressive
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have been smilingperfect progressive
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has been smilingperfect progressive
Past
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smiledsimple
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had smiledperfect
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was smilingprogressive
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were smilingprogressive
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had been smilingperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of smile
First recorded in 1250–1300; Middle English smyllen (verb); cognate with Old High German smīlan, Danish smile
Explanation
Smile is the thing you do with your face when you are happy -– or want others to think you are. Your expression softens and your mouth turns up at the corners. Smile, noun or verb, with its universal message and association with enjoyment and pleasure, is a very useful word. It can express joy or even say hello. Of course if you “smile through your sorrows,” you are either tying to make yourself feel better or fool other people into thinking you are happy. But in general, a smile is a good sign. And as the song goes “You’re never fully dressed without a smile.”
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
A still shot from a surveillance camera showed Flores walking away from the detainee’s cell after the incident with a smile on his face.
From Los Angeles Times • Jul. 8, 2026
“It puts a smile on everyone’s face,” he said.
From The Wall Street Journal • Jul. 7, 2026
And 14th seed Paolini, who has struggled with a foot injury this year, celebrated with a beaming smile before saying her positivity was her "superpower".
From BBC • Jul. 6, 2026
When Joe complains and threatens to bring up the noise, Angela all but begs him to put on a smile and let it go, just for this one night.
From Salon • Jul. 5, 2026
His eyes radiated with pride and I couldn’t contain the smile that quivered at the corners of my lips.
From "Red Flags and Butterflies" by Sheryl Azzam
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
