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

• smiler noun
• smilingly adverb
• smiling adjective
• smilingness noun
• smileless adjective
• smilelessly adverb
• smilelessness noun
• half-smiling adjective
• half-smilingly adverb
• outsmile verb (used with object)
• subsmile noun
• unsmiling adjective
• unsmilingly adverb

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

Her ever-present smile and the sparkle in her eyes were trademarks as she cheered on an unheralded underdog team that notched upset after upset before falling in the semifinals.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Dodgers catcher Will Smith smiled at the question of whether the Dodgers have another gear within them.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

“I look at those pictures and I smile. But when I look back and think, why?”

Read more on Los Angeles Times

They may well still be if they do not get the right result in Riga, but on this night his beaming smile at the final whistle was fully justified.

Read more on BBC

As Laura, the foster mother in “Bring Her Back,” Ms. Hawkins turns the smile up to terrifying.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• beam 
• grin 
• laugh 
• smirk