smiley

1 of 2

adjective

smil·​ey ˈsmī-lē How to pronounce smiley (audio)
: having a smile : smiling often
smiley kids

smiley

2 of 2

noun

Examples of smiley in a Sentence

Adjective She's a very smiley kid.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Adjective
With Matilda strapped to the front, Cuoco took the opportunity to snap a smiley mirror selfie. Brendan Le, PEOPLE, 30 Nov. 2025 The normally smiley 24-year-old had his hoodie pulled over his head. Alex Zietlow, Charlotte Observer, 26 Nov. 2025
Noun
The service The hotel team is attentive, confident, and smiley—a fitting attitude for a high-luxury hotel in easy-going Sydney. Matt Ortile, Condé Nast Traveler, 30 Dec. 2025 Pataky snapped a smiley selfie with one of the twins, who was decked out in sports gear. Stephanie Sengwe, PEOPLE, 26 Dec. 2025 See All Example Sentences for smiley

Word History

Etymology

Noun

short for smiley face

First Known Use

Adjective

1848, in the meaning defined above

Noun

1987, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of smiley was in 1848

Cite this Entry

“Smiley.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/smiley. Accessed 23 Jan. 2026.

Kids Definition

smiley

1 of 2 adjective
smil·​ey ˈsmī-lē How to pronounce smiley (audio)
: exhibiting a smile : frequently smiling

smiley

2 of 2 noun
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!