smile

1 of 2

verb

ˈsmī(-ə)l 

smiled; smiling

intransitive verb

1

: to have, produce, or exhibit a smile

2

a

: to look or regard with amusement or ridicule

smiled at his own folly

—Martin Gardner

b

: to bestow approval

feeling that Heaven smiled on his labors

—Sheila Rowlands

c

: to appear pleasant or agreeable

transitive verb

1

: to affect with or by smiling

2

: to express by a smile

smiler noun

smilingly

ˈsmī-liŋ-lē 

adverb

smile

2 of 2

noun

1

: a facial expression in which the eyes brighten and the corners of the mouth curve slightly upward and which expresses especially amusement, pleasure, approval, or sometimes scorn

2

: a pleasant or encouraging appearance

smileless

ˈsmī(-ə)l-ləs 

adjective

Synonyms

Verb

• beam
• grin

Examples of smile in a Sentence

Verb

The photographer asked us to smile for the camera.

She smiled when she saw him.

Both parents smiled their approval.

Noun

He greeted me with a big smile.

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

In another set of pictures uploaded this weekend Bieber was caught shirtless and shoeless on the golf course, chilling in an infinity pool alone at sunset, hanging on the beach, smiling, smoking something and trying on sneakers. —Gil Kaufman, Billboard, 29 Apr. 2024

In one red carpet photo, the pair smiled for the cameras with their arms wrapped around each other in subtly coordinated looks. —Emily Tannenbaum, Glamour, 28 Apr. 2024

The couple smiled throughout the dance as uptempo music played. —Marcia Luttrell, San Diego Union-Tribune, 28 Apr. 2024

On Friday, April 26, the singer, 31, debuted her new super short bob hairstyle in a smiling selfie posted on her Instagram Stories. —Escher Walcott, Peoplemag, 27 Apr. 2024

The bible homepage features a photo of a smiling Trump seated at what appears to be the Oval Office desk, although the website says Trump does not profits from sales of the book. —Joe Marusak, Charlotte Observer, 27 Apr. 2024

Jessy Zeigler: … by their explanation, just the happiest, most joyful person … never stopped smiling. —Erin Moriarty, CBS News, 27 Apr. 2024

Henderson, who is rumored to be dating fellow rapper Ray J, can be seen sporting orange hair in her smiling mugshot. —Madeleine Marr, Miami Herald, 25 Apr. 2024

And if that wasn’t enough to smile about, SDF is also easier to use and cheaper than sealants. —Nick Blackmer, Verywell Health, 23 Apr. 2024

Noun

His final purchase includes selections from Al Green, Madonna, Amy Winehouse — and the one that brings the biggest smile to his face, Earth, Wind & Fire’s Greatest Hits. —Steve Lyons, SPIN, 29 Apr. 2024

The former soccer star then shared another picture of the Kansas City Chiefs quarterback carrying both Sterling and Bronze in each arm while flashing a smile. —Gabrielle Rockson, Peoplemag, 29 Apr. 2024

Yes, Trump’s scalpel-wielding campaign aide, Susie Wiles, got all of us yammering about the governor’s height and his shoes and his smile and his supposedly bossy wife, but Trump proved to be an irresistible force. —Neal B. Freeman, National Review, 29 Apr. 2024

Yes, there’s nothing like that collective smile when that ad comes on. —Matt Donnelly, Variety, 27 Apr. 2024

The impression of severity is relieved by blue eyes the color of his jeans and a smile crease from the habit of grinning around a Marlboro. —Carolyn Wells, Longreads, 25 Apr. 2024

Harper’s warm smile and puppy-dog eyes instantly endear you to him, and his scenes with Rose are some of the few times this revival sparks genuine fireworks. —Patrick Ryan, USA TODAY, 25 Apr. 2024

The proud graduates ready to embark on the adventure of a lifetime posed in front of the Prince in two rows, wearing tentative smiles and looking like boys not used to being photographed. —Susan Tate Ankeny, Smithsonian Magazine, 23 Apr. 2024

Foster lingers to greet every one, the smiles genuine, the handshakes firm. —Houston Mitchell, Los Angeles Times, 18 Apr. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Verb

Middle English smilen, going back to a Germanic verbal base *smil-, *smīl- (from earlier *smei̯l-) "smile," probably an extension with -l- of Indo-European *smei̯- "laugh, smile," whence Old Church Slavic smějǫ sę, smijati sę "to laugh," Latvian smeju, smiêt "to laugh, mock," Tocharian B smi- "smile," Sanskrit smáyate "(s/he) smiles," and with a -d- extension in Greek meidiáein "to smile," philomeidḗs "with a friendly smile," Latvian smaida "smile," smaidît "to smile, mock"

Note: The comparative set for this Germanic etymon do not show clear descent from a single form, perhaps due to its affective character. There is no attested Old English ancestor of Middle English smilen; a Scandinavian source has been suggested, but Danish smile "to smile" and Swedish smila, not attested before the 17th century, could be loans from an unattested Middle Low German verb. Old High German has smilenter (glossing Latin subridens "smiling"), with presumed long vowel, continued by Middle High German smielen. Kiliaen's 1599 Dutch dictionary enters smuylen "subridere," apparently with a different vocalism. Parallel to these are a group of forms with -r- rather than -l-: Old English smerian "to laugh, scorn," Old High German smierēn, smierōn (with e₂?) "to smile," Old English bismerian and Old High German bismerōn "to mock, insult," and, with different vocalism, Old English smǣr, smǣre "lip(s)," gālsmǣre "inclined to laugh, frivolous." The forms with -r- have been compared with Sanskrit (Vedic) á-smera- "not bashful, confiding," and particularly with Latin mīrus "remarkable, amazing," presumed to be derivative of a neuter *mīrum, going back to a noun *smei̯-ro- "laughter, smiling," (though a semantic shift from "laughter" to "astonishment" is questionable).

Noun

Middle English smyle, derivative of smilen "to smile entry 1"

First Known Use

Verb

14th century, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1

Noun

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing smile

• archaic smile
• a smile on one's lips
• bring a smile to one's lips
• crack a smile
• had a smile on her lips
• smile from ear to ear
• smile on/upon
• smile to oneself
• thin smile
• wear a silly grin/smile on one's face
• wipe that smile off your face
• wipe the smile off one's face

Kids Definition

smile

1 of 2 verb

ˈsmī(ə)l 

smiled; smiling

1

: to have, produce, or exhibit a smile

2

a

: to look with amusement or ridicule

b

: to be fortunate or agreeable

the weather smiled on our plans

3

: to express by a smile

both parents smiled their approval

smiler noun

smilingly

ˈsmī-liŋ-lē 

adverb

smile

2 of 2 noun

: a change of facial expression in which the eyes brighten and the corners of the mouth curve slightly upward especially in expression of amusement, pleasure, approval, or sometimes scorn