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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
The normally smiley 24-year-old had his hoodie pulled over his head. Alex Zietlow, Charlotte Observer, 26 Nov. 2025 In a carousel of photos celebrating his 31st birthday, the pop star included a smiley photo of himself holding his son. Brendan Le, PEOPLE, 22 Nov. 2025
Noun
To launch the social media movement, Couric shared a smiley shot of her and her daughters, Ellie and Caroline. Kiran Hefa, PEOPLE, 1 Oct. 2025 The brand’s late founder’s spirit felt alive, as distinctive trompe-l’œil prints and the signature smiley symbol appeared on tops and dresses. Kati Chitrakorn, CNN Money, 29 Sep. 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 1 Dec. 2025.

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
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