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Synonyms

grin

1 American  
[grin] / grɪn /

verb (used without object)

grinned, grinning

  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, grinning

  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 American  
[grin] / grɪn /

noun

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

verb (used with object)

grinned, grinning

  1. Archaic. to catch in a nooselike snare.

grin British  
/ 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. informal to suffer trouble or hardship without complaint

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

noun

  1. a broad smile

  2. a snarl or grimace

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Related Words

See laugh.

Other Word Forms

  • grinner noun
  • grinning adjective
  • grinningly adverb

Etymology

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

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.

“Sometimes guilty as charged,” he said, grinning, as we walked to the main building.

From Literature

His grin turned smug, perching precariously on his lips like it might fall off.

From Literature

Clare smiled in an attempt to smooth things over, then remembered that his hideous toothy grin did more harm than good.

From Literature

She occasionally turned to grin in the direction of dozens of supporters behind her in the courtroom gallery.

From The Wall Street Journal

"I've eaten all of the different flavours at this point," he adds with a grin.

From BBC

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.