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
-
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
-
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:
In February the Turkish Foreign Minister responded with a long silence and a smile when asked on live TV if Turkey should pursue the bomb.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 7, 2026
An invitation brings a smile to your face, but the fact that you were taken aback by the sender of the invite created just enough friction in the process to give you pause.
From MarketWatch ● Aug. 4, 2026
“Some would call me Tim.” he said with a smile.
From Salon ● Jul. 31, 2026
Eight-time British national champion Lucy Campbell wrote: "The world is going to miss that smile so much. Sending my love and hugs to you all."
From BBC ● Jul. 30, 2026
His eyes land like frost on mine before his lips pull into a smile, thawing them.
From "Red Flags and Butterflies" by Sheryl Azzam
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
The Vances, however, can’t seem to shake off suspicions that they loathe each other, no matter how many smiles they flash at the camera.
From Salon ● Jul. 29, 2026
When Zelensky met Graham in his presidential office on Friday, the two exchanged smiles and shook hands.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 13, 2026
Kumu Maka, our bus driver, glances up into the rearview mirror and smiles.
From "Clairboyance" by Kristiana Kahakauwila
And the British defensive co-ordinator, who helped the Seattle Seahawks win the Super Bowl in February, smiled when he heard Traore's name mentioned during this year's pre-draft process.
From BBC ● Jul. 30, 2026
Baker smiled widely, nodded his head, greeted Ortiz in Spanish, chuckled and walked over to Ortiz and Vladimir Guerrero, giving each of them hugs and pats on the back.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 28, 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
He smiled after I busted him for looking, which made me recoil in horror and quickly dart over to hide in the pet food aisle.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 24, 2026
Maggie smiled as the baby bison skipped—no, hopped.
From "Legendary Frybread Drive-In" by Cynthia Leitich Smith
I scroll through the portraits he’d emailed me: two women laughing, a family smiling, and my personal favorite, a pop-artish rendering of Gigi Hadid.
From Slate ● Aug. 6, 2026
The thumbnail shows a smiling teen holding oversized shopping bags.
From MarketWatch ● Aug. 6, 2026
On Wednesday night, Grafström was pictured smiling alongside Infantino at a women’s Africa Cup of Nations match in Rabat.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 5, 2026
“Everyone was applauding and smiling at me,” he says, confessing to having been extremely nervous.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 3, 2026
He was cute and he was smiling at me.
From "Bye Forever, I Guess" by Jodi Meadows
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.
