wink
1 Americanverb (used without object)
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winks,
present (3rd person singular)
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winked,
past participle, past
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winking
present participle
verb (used with object)
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winks,
present (3rd person singular)
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winked,
past participle, past
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winking
present participle
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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:
Yet Schoenbrun’s observations are presented in the film as though they’re opaque, overloaded with smug surrealism and jam-packed with visual stimuli designed to wink and nudge at the otherwise obvious.
From Salon ● Aug. 26, 2026
Unlike a bachelorette party or the typical male revue, there was no giggling in the room, and no wink of camp from the performers.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 2, 2026
Cue that infamous wink from Rooney’s Manchester United team-mate Cristiano Ronaldo towards the Portugal bench, a lasting image of England’s 2006 World Cup.
From BBC ● May 10, 2026
“Within the community, it’s a little fun wink and a nod.”
From The Wall Street Journal ● Apr. 21, 2026
“No thank you, Brother. I couldn’t sleep a wink at a time like this. You know how it is.”
From "Redwall" by Brian Jacques
This gleefully silly stage version of the TV series stars Alex Brightman and Sara Chase in a production that winks at ‘Carousel,’ ‘The Music Man,’ ‘Oklahoma!’ and other classics.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Apr. 21, 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
This tragicomic result winks at the slight but important difference between artistry and stardom.
From Salon ● Feb. 8, 2026
A pair of Tabis winks at her all-black-clad friend; a couple holds hands as Seu moves through the room.
From Los Angeles Times ● Nov. 20, 2025
He winks, and now I’m certain my face is all red and splotchy.
From "I Can Make This Promise" by Christine Day
“I don’t think I convinced him,” Ava Gardner winked.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Apr. 17, 2026
It wouldn’t have worked if the stars winked even once.
From Salon ● Jan. 23, 2026
After taking the dock, Brown smiled and winked to a woman in the courtroom, while waiting for His Honour Judge Baumgartner to arrive.
From BBC ● Jun. 20, 2025
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
Martin yelled at the crowd, then winked quickly at Moss.
From "Anger Is a Gift" by Mark Oshiro
If you can’t get enough of that show’s visual irony, metatextual references and winking at entertainment tropes, here’s 10 more episodes of the same feeling, only Earthbound.
From Salon ● Jul. 25, 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
Just before his dinner toast, Charles quoted a Shakespearean plea for peace -- but ended with a winking reference.
From Barron's ● Apr. 29, 2026
That it got made before the strict enforcement of the Production Code allowed for a few more liberties than would shortly be permitted, but its bedrock slyness and winking tone are elemental.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Apr. 10, 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.
