Word forms: plural, 3rd person singular presenttense smirks, present participle smirking, past tense, past participle smirked
verb
If you smirk, you smile in an unpleasant way, often because you believe that you have gained an advantage over someone else or know something that they do not know.
Two men looked at me, nudged each other and smirked. [VERB]
A dozen people were watching her, smirking at her discomfort. [VERBat noun]
Synonyms: give a smug look, grin, simper More Synonyms of smirk
Smirk is also a noun.
Her mouth was drawn back into a smirk of triumph.
More Synonyms of smirk
smirk in British English
(smɜːk)
noun
1.
a smile expressing scorn, smugness, etc, rather than pleasure
verb
2. (intransitive)
to give such a smile
3. (transitive)
to express with such a smile
Derived forms
smirker (ˈsmirker)
noun
smirking (ˈsmirking)
adjective
smirkingly (ˈsmirkingly)
adverb
Word origin
Old English smearcian; related to smer derision, Old High German bismer contempt, bismerōn to scorn
smirk in American English
(smɜrk)
verb intransitive
1.
to smile in a conceited, knowing, or annoyingly complacent way
noun
2.
a smile of this kind
Derived forms
smirker (ˈsmirker)
noun
smirkingly (ˈsmirkingly)
adverb
smirky (ˈsmirky)
adjective
Word origin
ME smirken < OE smearcian, to smile
Examples of 'smirk' in a sentence
smirk
That wiped the smirk off her face.
The Sun (2009)
But it has taken just two months to wipe the smirk off his face.
The Sun (2010)
He had a smirk on his face.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
Yet his rival could barely smirk because he knows the mess he could inherit.
The Sun (2009)
You forgot to mention the gratuitous soaking the smirking staff know will hit some tables when the sea is angry.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
Take that smirk off your face.
The Sun (2012)
One of the blokes couldn't wipe the smirk off his face.
The Sun (2009)
The simple pleasure of walking up to the net with an apologetic smirk on her face is the breath of life to her.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
Not that he seemed to mind, judging by the smirk on his face.
The Sun (2015)
I dreaded seeing his smirking face again.
The Sun (2013)
There was a real annoying smirk on his face and I wanted to wipe it off.
The Sun (2011)
Within 20 seconds the smirk was wiped clean off my red, sweaty face.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
She added: 'When he turned round he had a smirk on his face.
The Sun (2013)
In fact, she's going around with a smirk on her face.
The Sun (2011)
Soon afterwards he was seen in public for the first time since 1963, a slight smirk on his face.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
And I'm doing it with a smirk on my face.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
A dreadful film, but it'll send you to bed with a smirk on your face.
The Sun (2013)
Yes, their bare chests bore signs of months of gym work, but they should not have attempted the trick without at least a smirk on their faces.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
In other languages
smirk
British English: smirk VERB
If you smirk, you smile in an unpleasant way, often because you believe that you have gained an advantage over someone else or know something that they do not know.
Two men looked at me, nudged each other and smirked.