grin

¹

[ grin ]

verb (used without object)

, grinned, grin·ning.

1. to smile broadly, especially as an indication of pleasure, amusement, or the like.

   Synonyms: crack a smile, smirk, smile, beam

   Antonyms: glare, frown

2. to draw back the lips so as to show the teeth, as a snarling dog or a person in pain.
3. to show or be exposed through an opening, crevice, etc.

verb (used with object)

, grinned, grin·ning.

1. to express or produce by grinning:

   The little boy grinned his approval of the gift.

noun

1. a broad smile.
2. the act of producing a broad smile.
3. the act of withdrawing the lips and showing the teeth, as in anger or pain.

grin

²

[ grin ]

noun

1. Chiefly Scot. a snare like a running noose.

verb (used with object)

, grinned, grin·ning.

1. Archaic. to catch in a nooselike snare.

grin

/ ɡrɪn /

verb

1. to smile with the lips drawn back revealing the teeth or express (something) by such a smile

   to grin a welcome

2. intr to draw back the lips revealing the teeth, as in a snarl or grimace
3. grin and bear it informal.
   to suffer trouble or hardship without complaint

noun

1. a broad smile
2. a snarl or grimace

Derived Forms

• ˈgrinning, adjectivenoun
• ˈgrinner, noun

Other Words From

• grinner noun
• grinning·ly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of grin¹

First recorded before 1000; Middle English grinnen, grennen, Old English grennian; cognate with Old High German grennan “to mutter”

Origin of grin²

First recorded before 900; Middle English grin(e), grinne, Old English grin, gryn

Word History and Origins

Origin of grin¹

Old English grennian; related to Old High German grennen to snarl, Old Norse grenja to howl; see grunt

Synonym Study

See laugh.

Example Sentences

With curly hair receding above his broad forehead and an energetic grin, Zuckerman was effectively Tanton’s Trojan horse.

From Salon

The same year she married a “fair-haired, blue-eyed boy with the cheekiest grin I’d ever seen”.

From BBC

“To us, that was massive,” says singer Amy Taylor, aka “Amyl,” with a grin.

From Los Angeles Times

Romer jumps in, adding with a grin, “Sometimes she has a new big word and I’m very impressed.”

From Los Angeles Times

Abbie York, Archie's aunt, told the BBC he was a "loving boy, with a cheeky little grin on his face all of the time".

From BBC

Related Words

• smirk