smirk

American  

[smurk] / smɜrk /

verb (used without object)

1. to smile in an affected, smug, or offensively familiar way.

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noun

1. the facial expression of a person who smirks.

smirk British  

/ smɜːk /

noun

1. a smile expressing scorn, smugness, etc, rather than pleasure

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verb

1. (intr) to give such a smile

2. (tr) to express with such a smile

Usage

What does smirk mean? A smirk is a kind of smile, but it’s not a friendly smile—it’s often a sarcastic or arrogant one or one that’s intended to provoke or irritate the person who sees it.Smirk is also a verb that means to smile in such a way. People often smirk to show contempt for someone or something—such as by smirking at a person who’s angry at them.Sometimes, though, the word simply refers to a kind of slight smile or a smile that looks like a smirk usually does—a baby might smirk, for example, obviously without meaning anything by it.Example: Wipe that smirk off your face and take this seriously!

Other Word Forms

• smirker noun
• smirking adjective
• smirkingly adverb
• unsmirking adjective
• unsmirkingly adverb

Etymology

Origin of smirk

First recorded before 900; Middle English smirken (verb), Old English sme(a)rcian

Example Sentences

“I remember that one now,” he said with a smirk, angling his chin up.

From Literature

He’d study my face and say, “Love it or hate it?,” shooting me a warm smirk.

From Los Angeles Times

A smirk showed at one end of her lip.

From Literature

His Clark Kent-esque transformation, from unimposing nice guy — “the nicest guy in the entire world,” Casparius said — to smirking menace whenever the day needs saving is the stuff of comic book legends.

From Los Angeles Times

Others sat smirking and chatting over their guards throughout the hearing.

From BBC

Related Words

• grin
• sneer