smile

[ smahyl ]

verb (used without object)

, smiled, smil·ing.

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, smil·ing.

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. 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. intrfoll byat
   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. troften foll byaway to drive away or change by smiling

   smile away one's tears

6. come up smiling
   to recover cheerfully from misfortune

Derived Forms

• ˈsmiler, noun
• ˈsmilingly, adverb
• ˈsmiling, adjective
• ˈsmilingness, noun

Other Words From

• smileless adjective
• smileless·ly adverb
• smileless·ness noun
• smiler noun
• smiling·ly adverb
• half-smiling adjective
• half-smiling·ly adverb
• outsmile verb (used with object) outsmiled outsmiling
• sub·smile noun
• un·smiling adjective
• un·smiling·ly 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

In addition to the idiom beginning with smile , also see crack a smile .

Synonym Study

See laugh.

Example Sentences

Someone who has a great smile, knows what he wants and is driven by his passions.

From Washington Blade

The price she’s paid for getting everything she ever wanted is written into her coquette’s smile, and it’s the saddest sight in the world.

From Time

Service people were told to plaster a smile onto their faces.

From Time

Ally noticed his smile right away and took it as a “good sign.”

From Washington Post

Brace responded to her ire with a friendly smile and wished her a blessed day.

From Washington Post

In that photo, Merabet has a big smile that spreads across his whole face and lights up his eyes.

From The Daily Beast

For those living in poor communities in particular, interactions with police rarely come with good news and a smile.

From The Daily Beast

He was grabbing my hips and he was pouring with perspiration and he had this cheesy smile.

From The Daily Beast

At this point Marvin gives his Liberty Valance smile, the kind that makes you wish you could disintegrate in front of him.

From The Daily Beast

Nobody terrified audiences with a smile as well as Lee Marvin.

From The Daily Beast

Joe looked at her with a smile, his face still solemn and serious for all its youth and the fires of new-lit hope behind his eyes.

From Project Gutenberg

The moon seemed to smile on him; the aurora appeared to dance with unwonted vigour, as if in glee; the very stars winked at him!

From Project Gutenberg

One adorable smile she gave him, and before he could advance to hold the door for her, she had opened it and passed out.

From Project Gutenberg

A smile of beatitude spread over his enormous countenance during the process.

From Project Gutenberg

This unreasoning, feminine obstinacy so wrought upon him that he permitted himself a smile and a lapse into irony and banter.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• beam
• grin
• laugh
• smirk