smile

[ smahyl ]

/ smaɪl /

See synonyms for: smile / smiled / smiles / smiling 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.

ANTONYMS FOR smile

1, 7 frown.

See antonyms for smile on Thesaurus.com

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Origin of smile

First recorded in 1250–1300; Middle English smyllen (verb); cognate with Old High German smīlan, Danish smile

synonym study for smile

1, 7. See laugh.

OTHER WORDS FROM smile

smileless, adjectivesmile·less·ly, adverbsmile·less·ness, nounsmiler, noun

smil·ing·ly, adverbhalf-smiling, adjectivehalf-smil·ing·ly, adverboutsmile, 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. 2021

Example sentences from the Web for smile

The expecting mom flashes a smile as she places her hand directly over her belly.
Summer Walker Confirms Her Pregnancy|Jasmine Grant|November 20, 2020|Essence.com
With a smile, she asks Samson if he can show us small-scale miners in action.
Crime, Corona, Copper and Trouble in Zambia|Eugene Robinson|October 30, 2020|Ozy
If you wanted to give someone the appearance of a small smile, you could already do that with a simple slider.
Photoshop’s Neural Filters can alter people’s expressions in convincing—and nightmarish—ways|Stan Horaczek|October 22, 2020|Popular Science
It’s like the dolphin smile where their face is just fixed in that position.
Forget Everything You Know About Your Dog (Ep. 436)|Stephen J. Dubner|October 22, 2020|Freakonomics

Typically surgeons measure whether or not their rebuilding of smiles is successful by tickling their patients and then they start laughing and they would use a ruler and measure millimeter movements.
AI Reads Human Emotions. Should it?|Tate Ryan-Mosley|October 14, 2020|MIT Technology Review
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 smile

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 forms of smile

smiler, 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

Idioms and Phrases with smile

smile

In addition to the idiom beginning with smile

smile on

also see:

crack a smile

MEANINGS

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smile

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

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

noun

Verb Phrases

ANTONYMS FOR smile

QUIZZES

LEARN THE SPANISH WORDS FOR THESE COMMON ANIMALS!

Origin of smile

synonym study for smile

OTHER WORDS FROM smile

Example sentences from the Web for smile

British Dictionary definitions for smile

noun

verb

Derived forms of smile

Word Origin for smile

Idioms and Phrases with smile

MEANINGS

WORD GAMES

LEARN

WRITING

WORD OF THE DAY

smile

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

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

noun

Verb Phrases

ANTONYMS FOR smile

QUIZZES

LEARN THE SPANISH WORDS FOR THESE COMMON ANIMALS!

Origin of smile

synonym study for smile

OTHER WORDS FROM smile

Words related to smile

Example sentences from the Web for smile

British Dictionary definitions for smile

noun

verb

Derived forms of smile

Word Origin for smile

Idioms and Phrases with smile