smile

1 of 2

verb

ˈsmī(-ə)l

smiled; smiling

Synonyms of smile next

intransitive verb

: to have, produce, or exhibit a smile

: to look or regard with amusement or ridicule

smiled at his own folly—

Martin Gardner

: to bestow approval

feeling that Heaven smiled on his labors—

Sheila Rowlands

: to appear pleasant or agreeable

transitive verb

: to affect with or by smiling

: to express by a smile

smiler noun

smilingly

ˈsmī-liŋ-lē

adverb

smile

2 of 2

noun

: a facial expression in which the eyes brighten and the corners of the mouth curve slightly upward and which expresses especially amusement, pleasure, approval, or sometimes scorn

: a pleasant or encouraging appearance

smileless

ˈsmī(-ə)l-ləs

adjective

Example Sentences

Verb The photographer asked us to smile for the camera. She smiled when she saw him. Both parents smiled their approval. Noun He greeted me with a big smile.

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

Your only job is to smile graciously, knowing this show-stopping dessert wasn’t nearly as difficult as everyone assumes. —

Sam Stone, Bon Appétit, 20 Mar. 2023 That prompted Williams to smile and repeat the phrase while pumping a fist. —

Kyle Melnick, Washington Post, 13 Mar. 2023 Weeks later, just as students were beginning to smile and laugh again, Perry said, another of the school’s sophomores was shot and killed. —

Darcy Costello, Baltimore Sun, 10 Mar. 2023 Jaquez could smile after making only four of 12 shots for nine points. —

Los Angeles Times, 20 Jan. 2023 Fortune will smile down on all who gaze skyward in the months to come. —

Manasee Wagh, Popular Mechanics, 18 Jan. 2023 According to his caretakers, Joey, who adores playing with other special needs pooches, makes everyone smile. —

Kelli Bender, Peoplemag, 4 Jan. 2023 Below, see the coolest and most unique gift ideas under $100 that'll make anyone smile. —

John Thompson, Men's Health, 13 Dec. 2022 The milestone, caught on camera, still makes Wilson smile. —

Nicole Yang, BostonGlobe.com, 11 Nov. 2022

Noun

In a photo shared on her Instagram Story, the mom-to-be cuddles up to her father, resting her head on his shoulder and placing her hand on his chest with her eyes closed and a smile. —

Angela Andaloro, Peoplemag, 20 Mar. 2023 The teacher was a good-natured man with a red, rumpled forehead, small friendly eyes, and a joyful smile. —

Mary Gaitskill, The New Yorker, 20 Mar. 2023 The governor described his first legislative loss with a wide smile and optimism about the rest of his proposals. —

Erin Cox, Washington Post, 20 Mar. 2023 Roll Tide, Sampson said to reporters on Friday with a smile and laugh. —

Nubyjas Wilborn | , al, 17 Mar. 2023 The driver’s license photo displayed on large screens in a federal courtroom Wednesday looked like that of an average grandfather, with the requisite bad lighting, wispy hair, squinting eyes and slightly unprepared smile. —

Jason Meisner, Chicago Tribune, 15 Mar. 2023 After belting a triple deep to the right-center field gap, Oregon State infielder Dallas Macias glanced at the home dugout from third base, flashed a toothy smile and folded his arms in a nonchalant celebration. —

Joe Freeman, oregonlive, 15 Mar. 2023 His father, Igor, the other co-founder and the chief engineer, chimes in with a twinkle in his eye and a proud smile. —

Lina Zeldovich, Popular Science, 14 Mar. 2023 Ciara paired the look with elbow-length gloves and a cool-girl smile. —

Women's Health, 13 Mar. 2023 See More

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'smile.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Word History

Etymology

Verb

Middle English smilen, going back to a Germanic verbal base *smil-, *smīl- (from earlier *smei̯l-) "smile," probably an extension with -l- of Indo-European *smei̯- "laugh, smile," whence Old Church Slavic smějǫ sę, smijati sę "to laugh," Latvian smeju, smiêt "to laugh, mock," Tocharian B smi- "smile," Sanskrit smáyate "(s/he) smiles," and with a -d- extension in Greek meidiáein "to smile," philomeidḗs "with a friendly smile," Latvian smaida "smile," smaidît "to smile, mock"

Note: The comparative set for this Germanic etymon do not show clear descent from a single form, perhaps due to its affective character. There is no attested Old English ancestor of Middle English smilen; a Scandinavian source has been suggested, but Danish smile "to smile" and Swedish smila, not attested before the 17th century, could be loans from an unattested Middle Low German verb. Old High German has smilenter (glossing Latin subridens "smiling"), with presumed long vowel, continued by Middle High German smielen. Kiliaen's 1599 Dutch dictionary enters smuylen "subridere," apparently with a different vocalism. Parallel to these are a group of forms with -r- rather than -l-: Old English smerian "to laugh, scorn," Old High German smierēn, smierōn (with e₂?) "to smile," Old English bismerian and Old High German bismerōn "to mock, insult," and, with different vocalism, Old English smǣr, smǣre "lip(s)," gālsmǣre "inclined to laugh, frivolous." The forms with -r- have been compared with Sanskrit (Vedic) á-smera- "not bashful, confiding," and particularly with Latin mīrus "remarkable, amazing," presumed to be derivative of a neuter *mīrum, going back to a noun *smei̯-ro- "laughter, smiling," (though a semantic shift from "laughter" to "astonishment" is questionable).

Noun

Middle English smyle, derivative of smilen "to smile entry 1"

First Known Use

Verb

14th century, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1

Noun

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler

The first known use of smile was in the 14th century

See more words from the same century

Cite this Entry

Style

“Smile.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/smile. Accessed 26 Mar. 2023.

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Kids Definition

smile

1 of 2 verb

ˈsmī(ə)l

smiled; smiling

: to have, produce, or exhibit a smile

: to look with amusement or ridicule

: to be fortunate or agreeable

the weather smiled on our plans

: to express by a smile

both parents smiled their approval

smiler noun

smilingly

ˈsmī-liŋ-lē

adverb

smile

2 of 2 noun

: a change of facial expression in which the eyes brighten and the corners of the mouth curve slightly upward especially in expression of amusement, pleasure, approval, or sometimes scorn