wink
1 Americanverb (used without object)
verb (used with object)
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to signal or convey by closing and opening one eye quickly.
Wink one eye if you need help later.
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to close and open (one or both eyes) quickly.
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to drive or force by opening and closing the eyes rapidly (usually followed by back oraway ).
She attempted to wink back the tears.
noun
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a winking movement, especially of one eye in giving a hint or signal.
I gave the judges a wink of my eye to show my confidence.
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a hint or signal given by closing and opening one eye rapidly.
Her wink assured me the plan was still on.
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an act of closing and opening one eye rapidly.
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the time required for closing and opening the eyes once; an instant or twinkling.
I'll be there in a wink.
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a little flash of light; twinkle.
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the least bit.
I didn't sleep a wink last night.
verb phrase
noun
verb
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(intr) to close and open one eye quickly, deliberately, or in an exaggerated fashion to convey friendliness, etc
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to close and open (an eye or the eyes) momentarily
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(tr; foll by away, back, etc) to force away (tears, etc) by winking
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(tr) to signal with a wink
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(intr) (of a light) to gleam or flash intermittently
noun
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a winking movement, esp one conveying a signal, etc, or such a signal
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an interrupted flashing of light
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a brief moment of time; instant
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informal the smallest amount, esp of sleep See also forty winks
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informal to give a hint
noun
Usage
What does wink mean? To wink is to close and reopen one or both eyes quickly, often as a subtle signal or hint to someone. To wink is also to shine with little flashes of light (to twinkle), as in Naomi gazed up at the winking stars and sighed. To wink can also mean to blink, but often it is reserved for the blinking of one eye. A wink is the act of winking. A wink is also the time it takes to wink. This is often used figuratively rather than literally, as in This year went by in a wink!A wink can also mean the least bit, as in I didn’t get a wink of sleep last night. Because a wink is normally quick, the example sentence implies you didn’t get the smallest bit of sleep. Example: She winked at me from the other room, signalling that it’s time to leave.
Synonym Usage
Wink, blink refer to rapid motions of the eyelid. To wink is to close and open either one or both eyelids with a rapid motion, often intentionally or as a signal. To blink suggests an involuntary movement, sometimes due to a sleepy, dazed, or dazzled condition in which it is difficult to focus the eyes or see clearly: Bright sun makes most people blink.
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
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winksimple
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winkssimple
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have winkedperfect
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has winkedperfect
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am winkingprogressive
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are winkingprogressive
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is winkingprogressive
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have been winkingperfect progressive
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has been winkingperfect progressive
Past
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winkedsimple
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had winkedperfect
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was winkingprogressive
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were winkingprogressive
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had been winkingperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of wink1
First recorded before 900; Middle English verb winken, Old English wincian; cognate with German winken “to wave, signal”; the noun is derivative of the verb
Origin of wink2
First recorded in 1890–95; extracted from tiddlywinks
Explanation
When you wink, you quickly close and open one eye. Sometimes a wink indicates a joke, a secret, or affection — and sometimes it just means you got something in your eye. Whenever your jokester uncle winks at you, it's like a private signal letting you know that the next thing he says will be a tall tale. Your best friend's wink might mean "Can you believe what the math teacher just said?" A wink is an often humorous way to communicate without speaking — but it requires some understanding between the winker and the person seeing the wink. Otherwise, it's nothing but an eye twitch.
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.
See Examples For:
Mr. Coffin et al. stage a colorful but uninteresting clatter of random mayhem, only occasionally interrupted by an ironic wink: “We are no longer evil,” announces Goomi.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 1, 2026
It may wink at the industry’s unseen heroes, but who can afford to make art for art’s sake in the entertainment industry anymore?
From Los Angeles Times ● May 20, 2026
After being dropped early, Dubois looked towards his corner and gave a little wink to show he was fine - he did not panic or unravel.
From BBC ● May 10, 2026
But every once in a while, we get a little wink, an ounce of good luck, an unearned gift, a happy accident, and this recipe falls in that category.
From Salon ● Apr. 13, 2026
She gives me a wink, like Auntie Idris knows exactly what I’m going to do.
From "King and the Dragonflies" by Kacen Callender
There’s even a cameo from “Star Wars” creator George Lucas, who plays himself, and winks to “The Matrix” and “E.T.”
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 6, 2026
Though the characters are different, the vibes are very much “Derry Girls”-plus 20 years, and there are a couple of winks to the hit comedy.
From MarketWatch ● Feb. 27, 2026
By 23:00 he was back at the airport where he caught 40 winks before his 06:00 flight the next day.
From BBC ● Feb. 20, 2026
This tragicomic result winks at the slight but important difference between artistry and stardom.
From Salon ● Feb. 8, 2026
He winks at me and pushes open the door to his room, quickly disappearing inside before she sees him.
From "Five Feet Apart" by Rachael Lippincott
Out the other, she winked at shareholders to recognize the enduring profitability of its gas-powered pickup and SUVs.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 21, 2026
It wouldn’t have worked if the stars winked even once.
From Salon ● Jan. 23, 2026
Ever the performer, Chiles looked directly into the TV camera during her team final floor routine and winked.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 30, 2024
It was a time when boosters in the Southwest Conference doled out “$100 handshakes” and the S.M.U. faithful winked as they talked about how they had the best football team money could buy.
From New York Times ● Mar. 30, 2024
She tilted it left and right to see it twinkle, squealing as the envelope's five symbols winked.
From "The Marvellers" by Dhonielle Clayton
Dean’s set was full of classic stuff — pastel-hued horns, bossa nova piano, winking choreo from her full-suited backing band.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 15, 2026
The late Ozzy Osbourne sang on the band’s international hit “Shake Your Head,” alongside a winking, very game Kim Basinger.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 3, 2026
Through female solidarity, she said with a raised eyebrow and a winking smile, women can “stand up to anything, and anyone.”
From Slate ● May 6, 2026
"Everyone else locked hands. @ChatGPTapp and @claudeai kept it strictly professional," he said on X along with a winking face emoji.
From Barron's ● Feb. 19, 2026
Nok looked behind them, at the Gold lights of the western shore winking off with the rising sun.
From "A Wish in the Dark" by Christina Soontornvat
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
