smile

[smahyl]

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR smile 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.

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 for smile

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR smile ON THESAURUS.COM

1, 7. See laugh.

Antonyms for smile

1, 7. frown.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Related Words for smile

smirk, laugh, grin, beam, simper

Examples from the Web for smile

Contemporary Examples of smile

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
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
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
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
“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

Historical Examples of smile

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

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 Formssmiler, 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

Word Origin and History for smile

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."

1560s, from smile (v.).

Idioms and Phrases with smile

smile

In addition to the idiom beginning with smile

smile on

also see:

crack a smile