smile
verb (used without object)
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.
was smiling
-
past progressiveof smile.past progressive
Used to describe an ongoing action or continuous state that was happening at a specific time in the past.
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Zuckerberg was smiling and laughing with the president Tuesday while taking questions from the press.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 30, 2026
He was smiling as he made his way through the market, where some had come specifically for the weigh-in while others were simply passing through and stopped to see what the fuss was about.
From BBC ● Aug. 28, 2026
Barreto said one of those arrested, a 14-year-old boy, was "smiling as if he had just beaten a level in a game."
From Barron's ● Aug. 12, 2026
"He was smiling a lot, engaged in the battle and having fun with the challenge."
From BBC ● May 24, 2026
But she could see by the way he was smiling dreamily into space that he was thinking now of a thousand colorful mochigashi, maybe sitting in piles around him on the floor.
From "A Place to Belong" by Cynthia Kadohata
