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
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
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 production’s winking tone blunts some of the original’s tear-jerking climax, yet its intact happy ending offers a surprisingly comforting vision of survival in an age of constant crises. — Theater Critic, Los Angeles Times, 5 Sep. 2026 The woman at the center of a viral video who was seen winking and smiling at a camera during the Lindsay Clancy trial this week has been dropped by the magazine she was credentialed to cover the trial for. — Kelsie Cairns , Bryan Llenas, FOXNews.com, 26 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for wink
Recent Examples of Synonyms for wink
Noun
  • The charging documents say that while the younger children were down for a nap on Tuesday afternoon, Bryan Bernardson abused the two girls, tricking them by offering Skittle candy.
    — Esme Murphy, CBS News, 9 Nov. 2026
  • Besides picking up stains from spills and accidents, the upholstery soaks up odors from hours of naps and movie nights.
    — Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 8 Nov. 2026
Noun
  • What to do nearby As with other safaris, days are bookended by morning and afternoon game drives, set largely around the east side of Madikwe, where the lodge is based (15 minutes from the airstrip).
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 5 Nov. 2026
  • Jake LaRavia picked up his fourth foul with eight minutes and two seconds left in the second quarter.
    — Broderick Turner, Los Angeles Times, 5 Nov. 2026
Verb
  • From then on, whenever UV light hits the patch, its electrical resistance drops for a moment, and a small onboard chip responds by blinking an LED or flapping the wings.
    — New Atlas, New Atlas, 5 Nov. 2026
  • With the wool industry in decline after decades of drought, overgrazing and soaring production costs, some ranchers are betting on a different kind of shed — filled not with fleece but with blinking racks of servers.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 2 Nov. 2026
Verb
  • Skate the Station Metro Atlanta’s largest outdoor ice rink returns for its new season, so lace up your skates (included with your skate time) and glide under the twinkling lights with the Midtown skyline as a backdrop.
    — Mary Caldwell, AJC.com, 10 Nov. 2026
  • Gone was a patriotic float at its end, one in which fireworks twinkled over a red, white and blue tapestry.
    — Todd Martens, Los Angeles Times, 10 Nov. 2026
Verb
  • Spread out across expansive work stations that resemble gleaming kitchen cubicles, chefs spend their days whipping up meals from soup to nuts, a laboratory of sorts to create appetizing and easy dinners to make at home.
    — Robert Channick, Chicago Tribune, 2 Nov. 2026
  • Spotting the lights less than a mile from his home, Wittlin turned onto a side street and pulled his gleaming red Pontiac Firebird over.
    — Graham Hurley, CNN Money, 1 Nov. 2026
Verb
  • The bottom line is that no aviation authority will ever ignore a bomb threat, Jeffries said.
    — Sophie Tanno, CNN Money, 5 Nov. 2026
  • Theories abound as to why Beijing has chosen to ignore the warnings.
    — Oliver Melton, Foreign Affairs, 5 Nov. 2026
Noun
  • And down on the court at what is now M&T Bank Center at Gampel Pavilion on campus or PeoplesBank Arena in Hartford, there must be standard bearers, the current flesh and heartbeat and faces of UConn basketball.
    — Dom Amore, Hartford Courant, 30 Oct. 2026
  • Her team found a 77% higher rate of irregular heartbeats during the six weeks around the 2016 election, compared with a control period.
    — Elizabeth Cooney, STAT, 30 Oct. 2026
Verb
  • Underneath the question on the screen, three dots appear—similar to the ones messaging apps use to signal that your conversation partner is composing a response—and flash with anticipation.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 6 Nov. 2026
  • Mitchell was particularly impressive as a distributor while Crowe and Bryant flashed their elite scoring ability.
    — PJ Green November 3, Kansas City Star, 4 Nov. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Wink.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/wink. Accessed 12 Nov. 2026.

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