smile
Americanverb (used without object)
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smiles,
present (3rd person singular)
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smiled,
past participle, past
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smiling
present participle
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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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smiles,
present (3rd person singular)
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smiled,
past participle, past
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smiling
present participle
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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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smiles
plural
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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
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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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outsmileverb (used with object)
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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.
See Examples For:
“You always knew how to make people smile, lift their spirits and remind them that everything was going to be okay.”
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 20, 2026
In a telling exchange, Garcia-Navarro asked the mayor about traits that make a good politician, and then she pointed to his smile and innate optimism.
From Salon ● Aug. 13, 2026
"It's time for me to head back home," he said, adding with a smile that it would be definitive.
From Barron's ● Aug. 12, 2026
Flashing a mischievous smile in a 1999 interview with The Wall Street Journal, the tall technocrat described himself as an “ordinary Chinese with a bad temper.”
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 12, 2026
I force my lips into something that’ll pass as a smile.
From "Red Flags and Butterflies" by Sheryl Azzam
Dogs are exceptionally skilled at reading human emotions, from smiles and laughter to frowns and tears.
From Science Daily ● Aug. 11, 2026
The mysteries surrounding Sanxingdui have spawned even more outlandish questions: Do the enormous protruding eyes and enigmatic smiles featured on the figures suggest the ancient people were extraterrestrials?
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 8, 2026
That didn’t dampen the smiles around Robin Roberts Field the day before the league opens play Saturday, marking the first professional women’s baseball games in 72 years.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 31, 2026
The sprawling complex had reopened gleaming following another makeover in June this year, promising a place where generations could "share smiles" a decade on.
From Barron's ● Jul. 30, 2026
But Mama and Daddy just had little smiles, where your mouth curves up in the middle but only halfway.
From "Ida B" by Katherine Hannigan
I smiled and left the courthouse bouncing up and down as I contacted my editor in D.C. to let him know I’d commandeered a golden quote.
From Slate ● Aug. 20, 2026
He stood, smiled and said, “My takeaway is that I would enjoy meeting again.”
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 7, 2026
"I show my friends and they're surprised. Everything is working, it's really all working," he smiled.
From Barron's ● Jul. 25, 2026
Joshua smiled when asked whether he believed that was possible.
From BBC ● Jul. 23, 2026
Flipping around, Harry smiled, the expression big, stretching across her face.
From "Legendary Frybread Drive-In" by Cynthia Leitich Smith
She is frequently by Trump’s side, often smiling and staring fixedly at him, and once reportedly rode in an SUV trunk to accompany him to a court date because there wasn’t a seat for her.
From Slate ● Aug. 21, 2026
At the building’s entrance, a massive banner celebrates the plant’s recently renewed federal operating license, proclaiming “You Made This Possible” above a photograph of smiling staffers.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 16, 2026
Mal Pope said Bonnie Tyler would have been smiling and thinking, "isn't this lovely that people still remember this song"
From BBC ● Aug. 13, 2026
Crocs on Thursday is introducing a new member of its marketing team: a smiling, 6-foot crocodile mascot named Niles.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 13, 2026
The smiling slender man in his early thirties, with his protruding ears, balding head, and minuscule glasses, gave an elaborate bow.
From "The Hiding Place" by Corrie ten Boom
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.
