smile

[ smahyl ]

verb (used without object)

, smiled, smil·ing.

1. to assume a facial expression indicating pleasure, favor, or amusement, but sometimes derision or scorn, characterized by an upturning of the corners of the mouth.

   Antonyms: frown

2. to regard with favor:

   Luck smiled on us that night.

3. to have a pleasant or agreeable appearance or aspect, as natural scenes, objects, etc.:

   The landscape smiled in the sunlight.

verb (used with object)

, smiled, smil·ing.

1. to assume or give (a smile, especially of a given kind):

   She smiled a warm and friendly smile.

2. to express by a smile:

   to smile approval.

3. to bring, put, drive, etc., by or as by smiling:

   to smile one's tears away.

noun

1. the act or an instance of smiling; a smiling expression of the face.

   Antonyms: frown

2. favor or kindly regard:

   fortune's smile.

3. a pleasant or agreeable appearance, look, or aspect.

verb phrase

1. 1. to regard with pleasure or amusement, as with a smile.
   2. to regard with mild derision:

      to smile at someone's affectations.

smile

/ smaɪl /

noun

1. a facial expression characterized by an upturning of the corners of the mouth, usually showing amusement, friendliness, etc, but sometimes scorn, etc
2. favour or blessing

   the smile of fortune

3. an agreeable appearance

verb

1. intr to wear or assume a smile
2. intrfoll byat
   1. to look (at) with a kindly or amused expression
   2. to look derisively (at) instead of being annoyed
   3. to bear (troubles, etc) patiently
3. intr; foll by on or upon to show approval; bestow a blessing
4. tr to express by means of a smile

   she smiled a welcome

5. troften foll byaway to drive away or change by smiling

   smile away one's tears

6. come up smiling
   to recover cheerfully from misfortune

Derived Forms

• ˈsmiler, noun
• ˈsmilingly, adverb
• ˈsmiling, adjective
• ˈsmilingness, noun

Other Words From

• smileless adjective
• smileless·ly adverb
• smileless·ness noun
• smiler noun
• smiling·ly adverb
• half-smiling adjective
• half-smiling·ly adverb
• outsmile verb (used with object) outsmiled outsmiling
• sub·smile noun
• un·smiling adjective
• un·smiling·ly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of smile¹

First recorded in 1250–1300; Middle English smyllen (verb); cognate with Old High German smīlan, Danish smile

Word History and Origins

Origin of smile¹

C13: probably of Scandinavian origin; compare Swedish smila, Danish smile; related to Middle High German smielen

Idioms and Phrases

In addition to the idiom beginning with smile , also see crack a smile .

Synonym Study

See laugh.

Example Sentences

“I really hope that in the future I will still be able to see him and give him the biggest smile and wave.”

From Los Angeles Times

Grant chooses goofy professor over, say, conflicted wannabe monk, and offers, if nothing else, a reminder that a boyish smile and twinkling blue eyes are simply quirks of genetics rather than reflections of humanity.

From Los Angeles Times

On her face is the smile she became famous for as one of the leaders of a wave of giant protests in 2020 that put the authoritarian regime of Alexander Lukashenko under unprecedented pressure.

From BBC

He took out his phone, smiled, and took a picture of himself with the huge “Trump” sign in the background, as he gave a big “thumbs up”.

From Salon

Then you begin to speak with them, they begin to smile, somebody begins crying, and it is like they become 3-D.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• beam
• grin
• laugh
• smirk