smile

American  

[smahyl] / smaɪl /

verb (used without object)

smiles, present (3rd person singular) smiled, past participle, past smiling present participle

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.

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verb (used with object)

smiles, present (3rd person singular) smiled, past participle, past smiling present participle

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

smiles plural

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 British  

/ 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

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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

smile Idioms  

More idioms and phrases containing smile

• crack a smile

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Synonym Usage

See laugh.

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• smilelessness
  noun
• smiler
  noun
• smilingness
  noun
• subsmile
  noun
• half-smiling
  adjective
• smileless
  adjective
• smiling
  adjective
• unsmiling
  adjective
• half-smilingly
  adverb
• smilelessly
  adverb
• smilingly
  adverb
• unsmilingly
  adverb

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• smiles
  plural

Participles

• smiling
  present
• smiled
  past

Conjugated Forms

Present

• smile
  simple
• smiles
  simple
• have smiled
  perfect
• has smiled
  perfect
• am smiling
  progressive
• are smiling
  progressive
• is smiling
  progressive
• have been smiling
  perfect progressive
• has been smiling
  perfect progressive

Past

• smiled
  simple
• had smiled
  perfect
• was smiling
  progressive
• were smiling
  progressive
• had been smiling
  perfect progressive

Future

• will smile
  simple
• will have smiled
  perfect
• will be smiling
  progressive
• will have been smiling
  perfect progressive

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

We were offered shopping malls, this photo shoot, that photo shoot — Smile, keep smiling!

From Los Angeles Times • May 19, 2026

Drummer Tom Skinner, best known as part of the trio the Smile with Thom Yorke and Jonny Greenwood of Radiohead, has a jazzy style so distinctive you can’t help but notice what he’s playing.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 10, 2026

Mars also featured on another song in the top five, with his Lady Gaga collaboration Die With A Smile coming in fourth place.

From BBC • Feb. 19, 2026

Surprise musical guests included Lady Gaga, who sang a Latin-inflected version of her hit "Die with a Smile" -- the only English lyrics in the show -- and Puerto Rican singer Ricky Martin.

From Barron's • Feb. 9, 2026

Smile, I write underneath, and press send to her phone number.

From "Merci Suárez Changes Gears" by Meg Medina

Related Words

• beam
• grin
• laugh
• smirk