smile

[ smahyl ]

/ smaɪl /

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR smile ON THESAURUS.COM

verb (used without object), smiled, smil·ing.

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.

to regard with favor: Luck smiled on us that night.

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.

to assume or give (a smile, especially of a given kind): She smiled a warm and friendly smile.

to express by a smile: to smile approval.

to bring, put, drive, etc., by or as by smiling: to smile one's tears away.

noun

the act or an instance of smiling; a smiling expression of the face.

favor or kindly regard: fortune's smile.

a pleasant or agreeable appearance, look, or aspect.

Verb Phrases

smile at,

to regard with pleasure or amusement, as with a smile.
to regard with mild derision: to smile at someone's affectations.

RELATED WORDS

smirk, laugh, grin, beam, simper

Nearby words

smidge, smidgen, smiercase, smilacaceous, smilax, smile, smile on, smiles, smiley, smilingly, smilodon

Origin of smile

1250–1300; Middle English smyllen (v.); cognate with Old High German smīlan, Danish smile

SYNONYMS FOR smile

1, 7 See laugh.

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ANTONYMS FOR smile

1, 7 frown.

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Related forms

smile·less, adjectivesmile·less·ly, adverbsmile·less·ness, nounsmil·er, noun

smil·ing·ly, adverbhalf-smil·ing, adjectivehalf-smil·ing·ly, adverbout·smile, verb (used with object), out·smiled, out·smil·ing.sub·smile, nounun·smil·ing, adjectiveun·smil·ing·ly, adverb

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for smiled

And so he looked at her, smiled, and offered a polite “Is everything okay?”
Powerful Congressman Writes About ‘Fleshy Breasts’|Asawin Suebsaeng|January 7, 2015|DAILY BEAST
She smiled, too, her incisors creeping out from behind her lips.
Dungeons and Genital Clamps: Inside a Legendary BDSM Chateau|Ian Frisch|December 20, 2014|DAILY BEAST
At which Bezos turned to the packed audience, smiled weakly, and said: “This is Henry being nice to me!”
Jeff Bezos: ‘I See Millions Working in Outer Space’|Lloyd Grove|December 3, 2014|DAILY BEAST
He clumsily sipped from the dainty straw of a blasphemously non-bourbon beverage and smiled broadly as he talked to fellow bros.
Mitch’s Brotastic Victory Bash|Olivia Nuzzi|November 5, 2014|DAILY BEAST

When asked by a public radio why Cuomo sounded as if he was encouraging Clinton to run, he smiled and dismissed the suggestion.
If Clinton Runs for President, Cuomo’s on Board|David Freedlander|October 23, 2014|DAILY BEAST
She smiled at them; but they did not return the salutation, and their actions made her more shy.
The Girl from Montana|Grace Livingston Hill
She smiled a little to herself as she recalled that infatuation; how long ago it seemed.
Norine's Revenge; Sir Noel's Heir|May Agnes Fleming
"It would take a three-inch field piece, sir, to make an impression on this wall of dirt," smiled Sergeant Hal.
Uncle Sam's Boys in the Philippines|H. Irving Hancock
Jake smiled quaintly as he fingered the coin with deliberation.
Tales of Northumbria|Howard Pease
She looked at Richard to see if he remembered the secret that they shared, and he nodded and smiled.
Rebecca's Promise|Frances R. Sterrett

British Dictionary definitions for smiled

smile

/ (smaɪl) /

noun

a facial expression characterized by an upturning of the corners of the mouth, usually showing amusement, friendliness, etc, but sometimes scorn, etc

favour or blessingthe smile of fortune

an agreeable appearance

verb

(intr) to wear or assume a smile

(intr foll by at)

to look (at) with a kindly or amused expression
to look derisively (at) instead of being annoyed
to bear (troubles, etc) patiently

(intr; foll by on or upon) to show approval; bestow a blessing

(tr) to express by means of a smileshe smiled a welcome

(tr often foll by away) to drive away or change by smilingsmile away one's tears

come up smiling to recover cheerfully from misfortune

Derived Formssmiler, nounsmiling, adjectivesmilingly, adverbsmilingness, noun

Word Origin for smile

C13: probably of Scandinavian origin; compare Swedish smila, Danish smile; related to Middle High German smielen

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for smiled (1 of 2)

smile

c.1300, perhaps from Middle Low German *smilen or a Scandinavian source (e.g. Danish smile "smile," Swedish smila "smile, smirk, simper, fawn"), from Proto-Germanic *smil-, extended form of PIE root *smei- "to laugh, smile" (cf. Old English smerian "to laugh at, scorn," Old High German smieron "to smile," Latin mirus "wonderful," mirari "to wonder"). Related: Smiled; smiling.

Gradually pushed the usual Old English word, smearcian (modern smirk), into a specific, unpleasant sense. Of the eyes, from 1759. Figuratively, as indicating favor or encouragement, from c.1400. Romance, Celtic, and Slavic languages tend to use a diminutive of the word for "laugh" to mean "smile" (e.g. Latin ridere "laugh;" subridere "smile"), perhaps literally "small laugh" or "low laugh."

Word Origin and History for smiled (1 of 2)

smile

1560s, from smile (v.).

Idioms and Phrases with smiled

smile

In addition to the idiom beginning with smile

smile on

also see:

crack a smile

smile

verb (used without object), smiled, smil·ing.

verb (used with object), smiled, smil·ing.

noun

Verb Phrases

RELATED CONTENT

RELATED WORDS

Nearby words

Origin of smile

Examples from the Web for smiled

British Dictionary definitions for smiled

smile

noun

verb

Word Origin for smile

Word Origin and History for smiled (1 of 2)

smile

Word Origin and History for smiled (1 of 2)

smile

Idioms and Phrases with smiled

smile