grinned; grinning
: to draw back the lips so as to show the teeth especially in amusement or laughter
grinner
noun
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
Examples of grin in a Sentence
Verb
She continued to tease her brother, grinning wickedly.
grinned at the kids' fooling around in the pool
Recent Examples on the WebAvi Selk, Washington Post, 8 Apr. 2024
Oscar grins on his dad's shoulders, bearing a striking resemblance to the TV personality.
—Hannah Sacks, Peoplemag, 4 Apr. 2024
The Iowa Hawkeyes, led by star guard Caitlin Clark’s 41 points, beat LSU 94-87 to advance to the Final Four, after which a grinning Sudeikis posed with the winners.
—Lisa Gutierrez, Kansas City Star, 2 Apr. 2024
In the cute selfie pic, Brown grinned at the camera with her eyes closed as her fiancé pressed his face against her cheek.
—Jenny Haward, Peoplemag, 24 Mar. 2024
There stood a doorman, grinning, Ringo in his arms.
—David Frum, The Atlantic, 21 Mar. 2024
The photo, in which the seated, smiling Kate is flanked by the three grinning youngsters in cozy sweaters, is credited in the post to William, Prince of Wales.
—Matt Brennan, Los Angeles Times, 10 Mar. 2024
Anchored by footage of a grinning Buffett recording the song in the studio last year, the video also includes decades of photographs and clips of Buffett performing in New Orleans and just enjoying the multitudes of delights the city has to offer.
—Melinda Newman, Billboard, 7 Mar. 2024
Jost then described the grinning Kentucky senator as having just seen the 2013 drama film 12 Years a Slave.
—William Vaillancourt, Rolling Stone, 3 Mar. 2024
Ryan Kartje, Los Angeles Times, 6 Apr. 2024
Related article Researchers found a tiny skull with wide eyes and a cartoonish grin.
—Taylor Nicioli, CNN, 27 Mar. 2024
Uncle Charles has an easy grin and the warm, reassuring manner of someone who welcomes boarders for a living.
—Emefa Addo Agawu, New York Times, 23 Mar. 2024
Randy, with his infectious grin, twinkling eyes, warm handshake, and rote recitation of Japanese garden symbology, was not condemned for a string of killings but rather for leading a death squad one summer night in 1987.
—Matt Thompson, SPIN, 12 Mar. 2024
With a killer beehive hairdo, a giant flower pinned to her sweater, and a big beaming grin.
—Johanna Mayer, Scientific American, 23 Feb. 2024
Dawn was breaking, and Max was staring out the window at the minarets and minimarts and Soviet-era apartment blocks, a big grin on his face, translating the Russian-language shop signs for me.
—Paul Tough, New York Times, 17 Mar. 2024
Peso whips around with a giant grin on his face and points at me.
—Julyssa Lopez, Rolling Stone, 11 Mar. 2024
Or the other clay vessel showing off a long black ponytail, a gold-toothed grin and blue sunglasses.
—Amanda Rosa, Miami Herald, 7 Mar. 2024
Verb
Wallen faces three felony counts of reckless endangerment, as well as a disorderly conduct charge, according to Nashville police, who posted a grinning mug shot of the 30-year-old chart-topper on X.
—Avi Selk, Washington Post, 8 Apr. 2024
Oscar grins on his dad's shoulders, bearing a striking resemblance to the TV personality.
—Hannah Sacks, Peoplemag, 4 Apr. 2024
The Iowa Hawkeyes, led by star guard Caitlin Clark’s 41 points, beat LSU 94-87 to advance to the Final Four, after which a grinning Sudeikis posed with the winners.
—Lisa Gutierrez, Kansas City Star, 2 Apr. 2024
In the cute selfie pic, Brown grinned at the camera with her eyes closed as her fiancé pressed his face against her cheek.
—Jenny Haward, Peoplemag, 24 Mar. 2024
There stood a doorman, grinning, Ringo in his arms.
—David Frum, The Atlantic, 21 Mar. 2024
The photo, in which the seated, smiling Kate is flanked by the three grinning youngsters in cozy sweaters, is credited in the post to William, Prince of Wales.
—Matt Brennan, Los Angeles Times, 10 Mar. 2024
Anchored by footage of a grinning Buffett recording the song in the studio last year, the video also includes decades of photographs and clips of Buffett performing in New Orleans and just enjoying the multitudes of delights the city has to offer.
—Melinda Newman, Billboard, 7 Mar. 2024
Jost then described the grinning Kentucky senator as having just seen the 2013 drama film 12 Years a Slave.
—William Vaillancourt, Rolling Stone, 3 Mar. 2024
Noun
When new linebackers coach Matt Entz is mentioned, Gentry breaks into a full-on grin.
—Ryan Kartje, Los Angeles Times, 6 Apr. 2024
Related article Researchers found a tiny skull with wide eyes and a cartoonish grin.
—Taylor Nicioli, CNN, 27 Mar. 2024
Uncle Charles has an easy grin and the warm, reassuring manner of someone who welcomes boarders for a living.
—Emefa Addo Agawu, New York Times, 23 Mar. 2024
Randy, with his infectious grin, twinkling eyes, warm handshake, and rote recitation of Japanese garden symbology, was not condemned for a string of killings but rather for leading a death squad one summer night in 1987.
—Matt Thompson, SPIN, 12 Mar. 2024
With a killer beehive hairdo, a giant flower pinned to her sweater, and a big beaming grin.
—Johanna Mayer, Scientific American, 23 Feb. 2024
Dawn was breaking, and Max was staring out the window at the minarets and minimarts and Soviet-era apartment blocks, a big grin on his face, translating the Russian-language shop signs for me.
—Paul Tough, New York Times, 17 Mar. 2024
Peso whips around with a giant grin on his face and points at me.
—Julyssa Lopez, Rolling Stone, 11 Mar. 2024
Or the other clay vessel showing off a long black ponytail, a gold-toothed grin and blue sunglasses.
—Amanda Rosa, Miami Herald, 7 Mar. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'grin.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
Phrases Containing grin
Dictionary Entries Near grin
Cite this Entry
“Grin.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/grin. Accessed 16 Apr. 2024.
Copy Citation
Kids Definition
grin
verb
grinned; grinning
: to draw back the lips so as to show the teeth especially in laughter
grin
noun
More from Merriam-Webster on grin
Nglish: Translation of grin for Spanish Speakers
Britannica English: Translation of grin for Arabic Speakers
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share