wink at

verb

winked at; winking at; winks at
: to pretend not to have seen or noticed (something) : to ignore
The city cops wink at the mayor's parking violations.

Examples of wink at in a Sentence

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.
There’s a big ensemble, elaborate costumes, a book that winks at every Rodgers and Hammerstein inconsistency that has ever bothered you, and, briefly, a dream ballet. Jackson McHenry, Vulture, 21 Apr. 2026 In The Prairie, Cooper worked in a wink at Lewis and Clark, a minor character who mentioned the famous expedition. Literary Hub, 21 Apr. 2026 Viewers won’t see Jake wink at them or try to slip them a promotion for insurance. Brian Steinberg, Variety, 13 Apr. 2026 My dad glanced behind us once to see if we were being followed, winked at me in the rearview mirror, and then swung our car toward Interstate 80, headed west. Zayd Ayers Dohrn, New Yorker, 28 Mar. 2026 See All Example Sentences for wink at

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Wink at.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/wink%20at. Accessed 23 Apr. 2026.

Love words? Need even more definitions?

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

More from Merriam-Webster