smiley

¹

[smahy-lee]

noun

plural

smileys 

1. a digital icon, a sequence of keyboard symbols, or a handwritten or printed equivalent, that serves to represent a facial expression, as :‐) for a smiling face or ;‐) for a winking face.

2. Usually smile face a drawing of a face consisting of a usually yellow circle with an upturned curve for a smile and two dots for eyes.

adjective

1. cheerful; smiling.

Smiley

²

[smahy-lee]

noun

1. Jane, born 1949, U.S. novelist.

smiley

/ ˈsmaɪlɪ /

adjective

1. given to smiling; cheerful

2. depicting a smile

   a smiley badge

noun

1. any of a group of symbols depicting a smile, or other facial expression, used in electronic mail

Word History and Origins

Origin of smiley¹

1985–90

Example Sentences

"She's taught me not to feel pressure to be smiley and nice all the time," Faith says.

From BBC

As they played, a biplane flew over the Pyramid Stage and drew a smiley face and a love heart in the sky.

From BBC

Another year, she turned them into a cartoon smiley face.

From Los Angeles Times

"He was so smiley and always made everybody laugh," they said.

From BBC

“I truly wish I could say more about what I’m doing, but more to come soon!” he wrote in a caption, with a smiley emoji in sunglasses.

From Salon