wink 1 of 2

noun

Definition of winknext
1
as in nap
a short sleep I wasn't able to catch a wink during the entire flight

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2
as in minute
a very small space of time I turned to look away, and in a wink he was gone

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

wink

2 of 2

verb

ˈwiŋk How to pronounce wink (audio)
1
as in to blink
to rapidly open and close one's eyes she winked several times to get the dust and grit out of her eyes

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2
as in to twinkle
to shine with light at regular intervals a lighthouse was winking in the distance

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3
as in to gleam
to shoot forth bursts of light fireflies winking in the darkness beyond our campfire

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4
as in to ignore
to secretly sympathize with or pretend ignorance of something improper or unlawful the whole sporting world seems to wink as untold sums are bet on the outcome of the Super Bowl

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of wink
Noun
Part of what Myha’la’s wink signifies is how much Celebrity Traitors UK is about, well, being a celebrity. — Fran Hoepfner, Vulture, 13 Oct. 2026 This wink-and-a-nod dynamic is now at the center of a fierce public policy debate over online gambling, addiction and consumer protection. — Jake Pearson, ProPublica, 26 Sep. 2026
Verb
The wry, winking tone still legible in its pages was an early iteration of the urbane magazine voice that powered nineteenth-century publications such as Judge and Puck, as well as later ones like The New Yorker, New York, Spy, and Gawker. — Eric Lach, New Yorker, 26 Aug. 2026 The ad ends with Cameli looking into the camera for a few seconds before winking. — Gabe Hauari, USA Today, 24 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for wink
Recent Examples of Synonyms for wink
  1. nap
  2. minute
  3. blink
  4. twinkle
  5. gleam
  6. ignore
  7. heartbeat
  8. flash
Noun
  • The link between frequent, accidental naps and dementia remained just as strong, suggesting that changes in napping habits can show up years before a formal diagnosis.
    — Khloe Quill, FOXNews.com, 22 Oct. 2026
  • Between game drives, guests here lounge on the veranda overlooking the desert hoping to spy more elephants, or relax in their suites with a massage or nap.
    — Samantha Falewée, Condé Nast Traveler, 21 Oct. 2026
Definition of nap
Noun
  • According to local media reports, employees in Area A, where the laboratory is located, were instructed to shelter in place for approximately 30 minutes.
    — Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 29 Oct. 2026
  • The ruling warns that the last-minute intervention could disenfranchise eligible voters, disrupt the midterm election and invite political meddling.
    — Kevin Rector, Los Angeles Times, 29 Oct. 2026
Definition of minute
Verb
  • While music went along with the show, the blinking lights did not change colors.
    — Carolyn Stein, Chicago Tribune, 27 Oct. 2026
  • Weaving every movement together are barely perceptible particles that make your ears blink and double-take—bubbles, dolphin gurgles, memory chips fidgeting, sprites hiccuping.
    — Kieran Press-Reynolds, Pitchfork, 26 Oct. 2026
Definition of blink
Verb
  • In my mind, nothing can beat the view of water in every direction, with the twinkling lights of small islands in the distance.
    — Amanda Eyre Ward, Bon Appetit Magazine, 22 Oct. 2026
  • In the middle sits Mariella’s Tacos, twinkling brightly like a carnival ride.
    — Daniel Hernandez, Los Angeles Times, 21 Oct. 2026
Definition of twinkle
Verb
  • There’s a gleaming hospital and a string of new downtown spots to supplement The Bar, the beloved dive that was supposedly among the inspirations for the Patch Café in the TV series Landman, which is set here.
    — Tim McDonnell, semafor.com, 22 Oct. 2026
  • In others, the walls are paneled in a gleaming hardwood, which sets off the furniture, upholstered in black and dark-gray velvets.
    — Kim Velsey, Curbed, 21 Oct. 2026
Definition of gleam
Verb
  • When custodians ignore or slow-walk responses, our FOIA rights diminish.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 30 Oct. 2026
  • While Florida’s legislatures have largely ignored a 2014 constitutional amendment voters approved to direct land sales taxes toward conservation, there have been several big land conservation pushes at the state level since then.
    — Alex Harris, Miami Herald, 29 Oct. 2026
Definition of ignore
Noun
  • Your heartbeat will be with my heartbeat every single day of my life.
    — Michelle Marchante, Miami Herald, 27 Oct. 2026
  • Savannah also shares a bracelet that has their three children’s heartbeats on it, along with LeBron’s initials on the clasp.
    — Anna Grace Lee, Vogue, 20 Oct. 2026
Definition of heartbeat
Verb
  • Some of the boldest convictions come from the executives at the top of firms whose economists are flashing warning lights.
    — Jeffrey Sonnenfeld, Fortune, 28 Oct. 2026
  • As the dark countryside of western Oregon flashed by, Madsen opted to watch a show on his phone — then a text from a random number popped up at the top of his screen.
    — Shaun Goodwin, Idaho Statesman, 28 Oct. 2026
Definition of flash

Phrases Containing wink

Browse Nearby Words

wining
wink
wink (at)
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Cite this Entry

“Wink.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/wink. Accessed 2 Nov. 2026.

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