grin
1 of 2verb
ˈgrin 
grinned; grinning
intransitive verb
: to draw back the lips so as to show the teeth especially in amusement or laughter
broadly : smile
grinning from ear to ear
grinner noun
grinningly
ˈgri-niŋ-lē
adverb grin
2 of 2noun
plural grins
: a facial expression produced by grinning especially in pleasure or amusement
a happy grin
She grew into a nimble young girl of seven winters, a thoughtful girl with shining brown eyes and a wide grin …
Louise Erdrich
Louise ErdrichI wanted to wipe the grin off his face [=make him stop smiling.]
Synonyms
Verb
- beam
- smile
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
Verb She continued to tease her brother, grinning wickedly. grinned at the kids' fooling around in the pool
Recent Examples on the Web Grace Segers, The New Republic, 11 Aug. 2022 But the rest of the world is left with less to grin about. Julia Horowitz, CNN, 7 Aug. 2022 For the rest of the drive, the two of you grin at each other through the mirror, delighting in this secret shared so many miles from home. Bryan Washington, The New Yorker, 4 July 2022 My heart goes out to all who have to grin and bear it, or grimace and bear it. Jay Nordlinger, National Review, 29 June 2022 All that was left to do was grin and bear it and hope that Mom would give me a turkey sandwich for lunch the next day. Washington Post, 7 Apr. 2022 All the Blazers can do is grin and bear it and hope their luck turns at the June 23 NBA draft, during free agency or in the trade market. oregonlive, 17 May 2022 Even as the show around her stutters, Garner leans into her role with a vulpine, barely there grin that proves irresistible. Caroline Framke, Variety, 9 Feb. 2022 For instance, when infielder Ramón Urías worked a walk-off walk to beat the Yankees earlier this month, his first move was to grin and bring his hands to his face. Andy Kostka, Baltimore Sun, 28 Apr. 2022 See More
Verb
McCarthy would have to grin and bear the minority until the GOP, boosted by a wave of anti–Barack Obama Tea Party sentiment, enjoyed a 64-seat swing in 2010. Grace Segers, The New Republic, 11 Aug. 2022 But the rest of the world is left with less to grin about. Julia Horowitz, CNN, 7 Aug. 2022 For the rest of the drive, the two of you grin at each other through the mirror, delighting in this secret shared so many miles from home. Bryan Washington, The New Yorker, 4 July 2022 My heart goes out to all who have to grin and bear it, or grimace and bear it. Jay Nordlinger, National Review, 29 June 2022 All that was left to do was grin and bear it and hope that Mom would give me a turkey sandwich for lunch the next day. Washington Post, 7 Apr. 2022 All the Blazers can do is grin and bear it and hope their luck turns at the June 23 NBA draft, during free agency or in the trade market. oregonlive, 17 May 2022 Even as the show around her stutters, Garner leans into her role with a vulpine, barely there grin that proves irresistible. Caroline Framke, Variety, 9 Feb. 2022 For instance, when infielder Ramón Urías worked a walk-off walk to beat the Yankees earlier this month, his first move was to grin and bring his hands to his face. Andy Kostka, Baltimore Sun, 28 Apr. 2022 See More Word History
Etymology
Verb
Middle English grennen, from Old English grennian; akin to Old High German grennen to snarl
First Known Use
Verb
before the 12th century, in the meaning defined above
Noun
1565, in the meaning defined above
Phrases Containing grin
Kids Definition
grin 1 of 2
verb
ˈgrin
grinned; grinning
: to smile broadly showing teeth
grin
2 of 2noun
: a broad smile that shows teeth
grinning 1 of 2
adjective
as in smiling
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- smiling
- laughing
- beaming
- delighted
- tickled
- gleeful
- satisfied
- joyous
- joyful
- pleased
- jovial
- gratified
- merry
- mirthful
- jolly
- blissful
- happy
- glad
- boon
- jocund
- unconcerned
- carefree
- lighthearted
- careless
- cavalier
- insouciant
- perky
- chirpy
- jaunty
- easygoing
- optimistic
- animated
- sprightly
- lively
- vivacious
- lilting
- hopeful
- happy-go-lucky
- sanguine
- rosy
- cheerful
- cheery
- devil-may-care
- chipper
- upbeat
- buoyant
- blithesome
- blithe
- gladsome
- winsome
- sprightful
- sunny
- canty
- gay
- lightsome
- bright
- eupeptic
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- sullen
- glum
- sulky
- morose
- dour
- gloomy
- saturnine
- sad
- unhappy
- joyless
- unsatisfied
- listless
- crestfallen
- mirthless
- dull
- downcast
- disconsolate
- lethargic
- forlorn
- dejected
- sluggish
- hangdog
- blue
- despondent
- sorrowful
- melancholy
- torpid
- down
- depressed
- inconsolable
- droopy
- disheartened
- low
- downhearted
- brokenhearted
- heavyhearted
- low-spirited
grinning
2 of 2verb
as in laughing
to express an emotion (as amusement) by curving the lips upward grinned at the kids' fooling around in the pool Synonyms & Similar Words
- smiling
- laughing
- smirking
- beaming
- sneering
- simpering
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- grimacing
- frowning
- scowling
- glowering
- glaring
- lowering
- pouting
- louring
- glooming
- sulking
- common ligament
- common logarithm
- common loon
- common mallow
- common man
- common market
- common measure
- common merganser
- common minke whale
- common moorhen
- common mullein
- common multiple
- common murre
- common nightshade
- common noun
- common of digging
- common of estovers
- common of fishery
- common of pasture
- common of piscary
- common or garden
- common orange
- common particular measure
- common particular meter
- common pasturage