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
-
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
-
-
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:
A year ago I lost a friend who would smile through a conversation and show faint signs of recognition, but then forget about the visit the next day.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 23, 2026
Caland once described her “very, very mixed media” as including “every single exchange, a look, a smile, a brief encounter.”
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 21, 2026
"For me it is fulfilling, knowing I've been able to support or help someone else be okay and smile," Kavita said.
From BBC ● Sep. 21, 2026
Everybody can put a smile on their face when things are going exactly how they want, but who are you when adversity hits?
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 21, 2026
In that moment, looking at his concerned eyes and warm smile, I know.
From "Split the Sky" by Marie Arnold
He smiles broadly as he signs an executive order.
From Slate ● Sep. 22, 2026
She smiles through her tears as she says: "Now I've just dared to dream that I might be around to see them fall in love, to get married."
From BBC ● Sep. 16, 2026
Roses are placed on the tables where supporters nibbled from snack plates, hugged, all smiles, and sipped from glasses of sparkling wine or beer.
From Barron's ● Sep. 13, 2026
Utopia exists between the care and the kisses and the how you doin’s, it becomes flesh and bone in the embrace of full body hugs and smiles so wide they could devour the sun.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 11, 2026
I try to silence her with a stare, like Michelle does to just about everyone, but Pua merely smiles back and I end up giving in.
From "Clairboyance" by Kristiana Kahakauwila
As the court session started, Chow and Lee stood up and smiled at the public gallery, which was full of people.
From BBC ● Sep. 11, 2026
Carrying backpacks and duffel bags, and wearing civilian clothes, crew members smiled and waved at a small crowd that had assembled to meet them.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 2, 2026
He smiled and nodded in thanks after a supporter in the public gallery shouted "hang in there!"
From Barron's ● Sep. 2, 2026
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 smiled broadly when I came in, and stood up.
From "Glitch" by Laura Martin
In the video, Pruett stood by, smiling, quiet, a little confused.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 22, 2026
The sign shows two smiling students, framed against Lake Michigan, with the Chicago skyline behind them.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 20, 2026
Timby, smiling at her boyfriend of one year, agrees.
From BBC ● Sep. 18, 2026
"The word 'peace' is considered offensive, dangerous," Zenkina told AFP, smiling.
From Barron's ● Sep. 16, 2026
“Clothing over here!” a smiling prison trustee told me.
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.
