smile
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.
to regard with favor: Luck smiled on us that night.
to have a pleasant or agreeable appearance or aspect, as natural scenes, objects, etc.: The landscape smiled in the sunlight.
to assume or give (a smile, especially of a given kind): She smiled a warm and friendly smile.
to express by a smile: to smile approval.
to bring, put, drive, etc., by or as by smiling: to smile one's tears away.
the act or an instance of smiling; a smiling expression of the face.
favor or kindly regard: fortune's smile.
a pleasant or agreeable appearance, look, or aspect.
smile at,
to regard with pleasure or amusement, as with a smile.
to regard with mild derision: to smile at someone's affectations.
Origin of smile
1synonym study For smile
Opposites for smile
Other words from smile
- smileless, adjective
- smile·less·ly, adverb
- smile·less·ness, noun
- smiler, noun
- smil·ing·ly, adverb
- half-smiling, adjective
- half-smil·ing·ly, adverb
- outsmile, verb (used with object), out·smiled, out·smil·ing.
- sub·smile, noun
- un·smil·ing, adjective
- un·smil·ing·ly, adverb
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024
British Dictionary definitions for smile
/ (smaɪl) /
a facial expression characterized by an upturning of the corners of the mouth, usually showing amusement, friendliness, etc, but sometimes scorn, etc
favour or blessing: the smile of fortune
an agreeable appearance
(intr) to wear or assume a smile
(intr foll by at)
to look (at) with a kindly or amused expression
to look derisively (at) instead of being annoyed
to bear (troubles, etc) patiently
(intr; foll by on or upon) to show approval; bestow a blessing
(tr) to express by means of a smile: she smiled a welcome
(tr often foll by away) to drive away or change by smiling: smile away one's tears
come up smiling to recover cheerfully from misfortune
Origin of smile
1Derived forms of smile
- smiler, noun
- smiling, adjective
- smilingly, adverb
- smilingness, noun
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
Other Idioms and Phrases with smile
In addition to the idiom beginning with smile
- smile on
also see:
- crack a smile
The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
Browse