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

“No, not at all,” he said with a grin.

From Los Angeles Times

He grinned from cheek to cheek, looking like a kid on a sugar high.

From Los Angeles Times

His grinning appearance in a Trump family photo taken at Mar-a-Lago on election night was weird, but made weirder by the fact that Melania was not in the picture.

From Los Angeles Times

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

From BBC

“My feelings before were sadness and despair. Now I feel happiness and freedom,” he says, grinning afterwards.

From BBC

Related Words

• smirk