Word forms: plural, 3rd person singular presenttense smiles, present participle smiling, past tense, past participle smiled
1. verb
When you smile, the corners of your mouth curve up and you sometimes show your teeth. People smile when they are pleased or amused, or when they are being friendly.
When he saw me, he smiled and waved. [VERB]
He rubbed the back of his neck and smiled ruefully at me. [VERB + at]
His smiling face appears on T-shirts, billboards, and posters. [VERB-ing]
2. countable noun
A smile is the expression that you have on your face when you smile.
She gave a wry smile.
'There are some sandwiches if you're hungry,' she said with a smile.
She had a big smile on her face.
Synonyms: grin, beam, smirk More Synonyms of smile
3. verb
If you smile something, you say it with a smile or express it by a smile.
'Aren't we daft?' she smiled. [VERB with quote]
She smiled her thanks and arranged the guitar under her arm. [VERB noun]
4. verb
If you say that something such as fortune smiles on someone, you mean that they are lucky or successful.
[literary]
When fortune smiled on him, he made the most of it. [VERB + on/upon]
God is not smiling on our cause. [Von/upon n]
5.
See all smiles
6. to wipe the smile off someone's face
More Synonyms of smile
smile in British English
(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
4. (intransitive)
to wear or assume a smile
5. (intransitive; foll byat)
a.
to look (at) with a kindly or amused expression
b.
to look derisively (at) instead of being annoyed
c.
to bear (troubles, etc) patiently
6. (intr; foll by on or upon)
to show approval; bestow a blessing
7. (transitive)
to express by means of a smile
she smiled a welcome
8. (transitive; often foll byaway)
to drive away or change by smiling
smile away one's tears
9. come up smiling
Derived forms
smiler (ˈsmiler)
noun
smiling (ˈsmiling)
adjective
smilingly (ˈsmilingly)
adverb
smilingness (ˈsmilingness)
noun
Word origin
C13: probably of Scandinavian origin; compare Swedish smila, Danish smile; related to Middle High German smielen
smile in American English
(smaɪl)
verb intransitiveWord forms: smiled or ˈsmiling
1.
to have or take on a facial expression showing usually pleasure, amusement, affection, friendliness, etc., or, sometimes, irony, derision, etc. and characterized by an upward curving of the corners of the mouth and a sparkling of the eyes
2.
to look (at, on, or upon someone) with a pleasant expression of this kind
3.
to regard with favor or approval
with on or upon
4.
to have a favorable, pleasing, or agreeable appearance
verb transitive
5.
to express with a smile
6.
to change or affect by smiling
noun
7.
the act of smiling
8.
the facial expression made in smiling
9.
a favorable, pleasing, or agreeable appearance
Idioms:
smile away
Derived forms
smiler (ˈsmiler)
noun
smilingly (ˈsmilingly)
adverb
Word origin
ME smilen, akin to Norw smile, Swed smila, prob. via MLowG *smilen < IE base *(s)mei-, to smile, be astonished > L mirus, wonderful, OE smearcian, to smile
Examples of 'smile' in a sentence
smile
They were able to smile about the past.
Christianity Today (2000)
That was when fortune smiled upon him.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
Selden returned her look with a smile.
Edith Wharton The House of Mirth (1905)
She sends audiences away smiling and hungry to read her books.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
You will be surprised how many smiles you get back.
Vera Peiffer POSITIVE THINKING: Everything you have always known about positive thinking but wereafraid to put into practice (2001)
They have both got huge smiles on their faces.
The Sun (2010)
She smiled as one bringing good news.
Travers, P L What the Bee Knows - reflections on myth, symbol and story (1989)
The secret was simply to keep my mouth shut and smile.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
Something to put a great big smile on your face.
The Sun (2015)
Should put a smile on your faces!
The Sun (2016)
It would mean the world to me to see her smile one day.
The Sun (2011)
There is a wry smile at the memory.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
But he knows he still has a lot in his life to smile about.
The Sun (2013)
Most turned their heads away or just smiled.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
There was the faintest hint of a smile on his face.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
She usually had a smile on her face but the last couple of weeks were taking their toll.
The Sun (2016)
It will help you look beyond the smiles people wear and see how they really think and feel.
The Sun (2016)
Smiling, he says that it allowed him to spend his time in the garden.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
But simply smiling or faking amusement won't have much effect on your immune system.
The Sun (2007)
They had a defibrillator with them as well, so fortune was smiling on me that day.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
You'll bring a smile to the biggest lips in showbiz.
The Sun (2014)
And smile says that yes, I am very happy.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
In other languages
smile
British English: smile /smaɪl/ NOUN
A smile is the expression that you have on your face when you smile.
She gave a wry smile.
American English: smile
Arabic: ابْتِسَامَة
Brazilian Portuguese: sorriso
Chinese: 微笑
Croatian: osmijeh
Czech: úsměv
Danish: smil
Dutch: glimlach
European Spanish: sonrisa
Finnish: hymy
French: sourire
German: Lächeln
Greek: χαμόγελο
Italian: sorriso
Japanese: ほほ笑み
Korean: 미소
Norwegian: smil
Polish: uśmiech
European Portuguese: sorriso
Romanian: zâmbet
Russian: улыбка
Latin American Spanish: sonrisa
Swedish: leende
Thai: รอยยิ้ม
Turkish: gülümseme
Ukrainian: посмішка
Vietnamese: nụ cười
British English: smile /smaɪl/ VERB
When you smile, the corners of your mouth curve up and you sometimes show your teeth. People smile when they are pleased or amused, or when they are being friendly.
When he saw me, he smiled and waved.
American English: smile
Arabic: يَبْتَسِمُ
Brazilian Portuguese: sorrir
Chinese: 微笑
Croatian: smiješiti se
Czech: usmát se
Danish: smile
Dutch: glimlachen
European Spanish: sonreír gozo
Finnish: hymyillä
French: sourire
German: lächeln
Greek: χαμογελώ
Italian: sorridere
Japanese: ほほ笑む
Korean: 미소를 짓다
Norwegian: smile
Polish: uśmiechnąć się
European Portuguese: sorrir
Romanian: a zâmbi
Russian: улыбаться
Latin American Spanish: sonreír
Swedish: le
Thai: ยิ้ม
Turkish: gülümsemek
Ukrainian: посміхатися
Vietnamese: mỉm cười
All related terms of 'smile'
half-smile
a smile that is uncertain or short-lived
smile away
to drive away or get rid of by a smile or smiling
crack a smile
to break into a smile
force a smile
to make oneself smile
to wipe the smile off someone's face wipe the grin/smirk off sb's face
If you say that something wipes the smile off someone's face , you mean that it suddenly spoils their enjoyment or removes an advantage that they had and that you are pleased about it.
Chinese translation of 'smile'
smile
(smaɪl)
n(c)
微笑 (wēixiào) (个(個), gè)
vi
to smile (at sb)(对(對)某人)微笑 ((duì mǒurén) wēixiào)
vt
用微笑表示 (yòng wēixiào biǎoshì)
All related terms of 'smile'
to smile broadly
咧嘴笑 liězuǐ xiào
he attempted a smile
他试(試)图(圖)挤(擠)出一丝(絲)微笑 tā shìtú jǐchū yī sī wēixiào