Dictionary.com
definitions
  • synonyms

smile

[smahyl]
See more synonyms for smile on Thesaurus.com
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.
  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.
Show More
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.
Show More
noun
  1. the act or an instance of smiling; a smiling expression of the face.
  2. favor or kindly regard: fortune's smile.
  3. a pleasant or agreeable appearance, look, or aspect.
Show More
Verb Phrases
  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.
Show More

Origin of smile

1250–1300; Middle English smyllen (v.); cognate with Old High German smīlan, Danish smile
Related formssmile·less, adjectivesmile·less·ly, adverbsmile·less·ness, nounsmil·er, nounsmil·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

Synonyms

See more synonyms for smile on Thesaurus.com
1, 7. See laugh.

Antonyms

1, 7. frown.
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Examples from the Web for smiled

Contemporary Examples

Historical Examples

  • As she leaned over him, he smiled faintly, and imprinted a kiss upon her lips.

    Philothea

    Lydia Maria Child

  • She smiled rather painfully, with an obvious effort to be conventional.

    The Spenders

    Harry Leon Wilson

  • Malbone looked at Kate, who smiled with delight, and put her hand on that of Hope.

    Malbone

    Thomas Wentworth Higginson

  • She smiled good-naturedly on Hope, and kissed her hand to Kate.

    Malbone

    Thomas Wentworth Higginson

  • "I'd like to recite English in one of your classes, Emma," smiled Grace.

British Dictionary definitions for smiled

smile

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 blessingthe smile of fortune
  3. an agreeable appearance
Show More
verb
  1. (intr) to wear or assume a smile
  2. (intr foll by at)
    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 smileshe smiled a welcome
  5. (tr often foll by away) to drive away or change by smilingsmile away one's tears
  6. come up smiling to recover cheerfully from misfortune
Show More
Derived Formssmiler, nounsmiling, adjectivesmilingly, adverbsmilingness, noun

Word Origin

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

smile

v.

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."

Show More

smile

n.

1560s, from smile (v.).

Show More
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper

Idioms and Phrases with smiled

smile

In addition to the idiom beginning with smile

  • smile on

also see:

  • crack a smile
Show More
The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.