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
The wink-and-nod statements about Jewish money. Howard Libit, Baltimore Sun, 3 May 2026 There’s a little bit of a wink towards a relationship that’s kind of intriguing. Brande Victorian, HollywoodReporter, 29 Apr. 2026
Verb
The same girls who’d posted winking pop-culture-reference couples Halloween costumes a few years ago were now posting their toddlers in their own pop-culture-reference costumes. Literary Hub, 9 Apr. 2026 Made in the earnest style of a disease-of-the-week television movie without ever tipping over into winking irony, the film is both funny and tender. Los Angeles Times, 8 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for wink
Recent Examples of Synonyms for wink
Noun
  • In the meantime, Quinn’s dad can try to squeeze in a few naps.
    Sean Gentille, New York Times, 10 May 2026
  • Growing offspring will nurse when hungry, play like puppies and nap in the shade of the old oak trees.
    Susan Koch, Chicago Tribune, 8 May 2026
Noun
  • Wembanyama left the floor with just four points and four rebounds in 12 minutes of action.
    Alejandro Avila OutKick, FOXNews.com, 11 May 2026
  • Ultimately, Fox was just 8-for-23 from the field (1-for-7 on 3-pointers) and Minnesota pulled ahead in the final few minutes.
    Dan Santaromita, New York Times, 11 May 2026
Verb
  • That shift in tone comes after a year of both schools playing chicken, with each side refusing to blink during negotiations over the future of the series.
    Ryan Kartje, Los Angeles Times, 11 May 2026
  • The only things brighter than Dylan Groenewegen’s pink and blue sleeves are the blinking camera lights around him, all videographers belonging to his Unibet Rose Rockets team.
    Jacob Whitehead, New York Times, 9 May 2026
Verb
  • The titular town is a serene speck of a place in the west of Japan, near a mountain also called Nagi, a beautiful but raggedy landscape that patchworks swathes of virgin forest, farmed fields and twinkling solar panels.
    Leslie Felperin, HollywoodReporter, 13 May 2026
  • In an Instagram post, the actress showed off the park's winter decor — twinkling lights, artificial snow and Christmas trees.
    Mackenzie Schmidt, PEOPLE, 13 May 2026
Verb
  • From lush velvet upholstery to intricate marquetry to gleaming brass fixtures, each sleeping carriage—including an exclusive carriage-long L’Observatoire designed by French artist and photographer JR that launched in 2025—is packed with immersive details that send travelers back in time.
    Rebekah Peppler, Condé Nast Traveler, 10 May 2026
  • His jaw tightened as beads of sweat gleamed on his forehead.
    Christopher Cann, USA Today, 10 May 2026
Verb
  • Ricketts faces four primary challengers of his own, but he's mostly ignored those rivals to put more attention towards Osborn in what could be a competitive race.
    Phillip M. Bailey, USA Today, 12 May 2026
  • Common laundry habits — ignoring dryer vent buildup, leaving wet clothes in the washer, using hot water on everything and skipping the washing machine gasket — can damage appliances, ruin fabrics and even create a fire risk.
    Lauren Jarvis-Gibson, Miami Herald, 12 May 2026
Noun
  • Much like their youthful, emotional heartbeats, malls in the ’80s and ’90s bustled, becoming as quintessential to American culture as hot dogs and apple pie.
    Audrey Pachuta, Chicago Tribune, 9 May 2026
  • Lyme is more complex and varied and can cause symptoms ranging from fever and rash to facial paralysis, an irregular heartbeat and even arthritis.
    Mary Walrath-Holdridge, USA Today, 9 May 2026
Verb
  • Archival black-and-white photos tracing the history of sculpture—both works that inspired Brancusi along with those influenced by him—flash on the screen before the music picks back up.
    Leigh Anne Miller, ARTnews.com, 14 May 2026
  • The stars, who have worked together on several of the house’s campaigns, warmly embraced and then immediately started gabbing as cameras flashed around them and fans clamored to get the perfect shot.
    Katie Abel, Footwear News, 14 May 2026

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

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