wink 1 of 2

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

wink

2 of 2

verb

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
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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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
Roth was free to charm, wink, and flash that high-wattage grin, while the singers amplified the old Halen harmonies. Jed Gottlieb, Boston Herald, 25 May 2026 Anika Reed Naomi Osaka gave a wink to the body with her look, a sultry and sparkling red dress with anatomical features carved out in crystals. Swasti Singhai, USA Today, 20 May 2026
Verb
Jim tests positive and, much to his horror, sees his abs winking out of existence one by one. Richard Lawson, HollywoodReporter, 17 May 2026 Two guys at the golf course are winking, and whispering, and tipping each other off. Jon Wertheim, CBS News, 17 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for wink
Recent Examples of Synonyms for wink
Noun
  • Unfortunately for the Kansas City Chiefs star, the Knicks pulled ahead to ultimately win the match—and Kelce protested by taking a mini nap on his fiancée's shoulder and downing his drink in a beer chug seen all over the internet.
    Lara Walsh, InStyle, 8 June 2026
  • According to the warrant affidavits, each incident was alleged to have occurred during nap time.
    Justin Muszynski, Hartford Courant, 3 June 2026
Noun
  • The 79th Tony Awards telecast kicked off with a bang by giving out two major awards in the first 30 minutes — and before viewers could blink both John Lithgow and Laurie Metcalf had each won the third Tony Award of their careers.
    Jessica Gelt, Los Angeles Times, 8 June 2026
  • His 75-minute-long tours feel less like being talked at and more like movable feasts of sights and storytelling.
    Arati Menon, Condé Nast Traveler, 7 June 2026
Verb
  • The 79th Tony Awards telecast kicked off with a bang by giving out two major awards in the first 30 minutes — and before viewers could blink both John Lithgow and Laurie Metcalf had each won the third Tony Award of their careers.
    Jessica Gelt, Los Angeles Times, 8 June 2026
  • Physical tics can be as subtle as eye blinking, or involve jerking the arms, or stretching the neck.
    Cara Lynn Shultz, PEOPLE, 5 June 2026
Verb
  • With their tiny, twinkling lights, fireflies are icons of a Georgia summer night.
    Charles Seabrook, AJC.com, 6 June 2026
  • The Danish band’s newfound brightness is apparent from the start, as the album opens with twinkling glockespiel.
    Brendan Hay, SPIN, 2 June 2026
Verb
  • The idea of the song — ‘Jules Rimet still gleaming’ — is looking back at the 1966 World Cup rather than talking about winning the Euros.
    Jack Pitt-Brooke, New York Times, 10 June 2026
  • Anthony and Metcalf attended separate schools in Frisco, one of Texas’ fastest-growing cities that is dotted with dozens of modern school campuses and gleaming athletic facilities.
    Jamie Stengle, Los Angeles Times, 9 June 2026
Verb
  • So next time your airline sends you that push notification or reminder email, don’t ignore it.
    Alesandra Dubin, Southern Living, 9 June 2026
  • But Canaccord Genuity thinks investors should ignore the decline and get into the stock now.
    Davis Giangiulio, CNBC, 9 June 2026
Noun
  • Lucy had tubes all over her body, and a nurse was trying to establish a heartbeat.
    Grethel Aguila, Miami Herald, 9 June 2026
  • This is the most fearsome repertoire in all of pop music, and Nilles supplied its heartbeat and muscle, and most of its nuance.
    Joshua Rothkopf, Los Angeles Times, 8 June 2026
Verb
  • The combination of flashing light and movement startles them.
    Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 11 June 2026
  • Disguised with a tactical uniform and realistic mask that covered his entire head, Boelter drove a fake police SUV with lights flashing to the legislators’ homes.
    Tim Sullivan, Los Angeles Times, 11 June 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Wink.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/wink. Accessed 15 Jun. 2026.

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