Smile: meaning, definitions and examples

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smile

[ smaɪl ]

Noun / Verb

Oxford 3000

^{Context #1 | Noun}

facial expression

A smile is a facial expression formed primarily by flexing the muscles at the sides of the mouth. It is an expression denoting pleasure, sociability, happiness, or amusement. Smiles can be involuntary or voluntary.

Synonyms

beam, grin, smirk.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

Word	Description / Examples
smile	Use in general situations where a person shows happiness or friendliness. It's a simple and neutral expression. She has a beautiful smile that lights up the room. The baby smiled at everyone who walked by.
grin	Used for a wide, often mischievous or cheeky smile. Indicates amusement or satisfaction. He grinned after pulling the prank on his friend. She couldn't help but grin when she saw the surprise party.
beam	Used when describing a very broad and joyful smile. Often implies a high level of happiness or pride. He beamed with pride when he received the award. She beamed as she announced her engagement.
smirk	Carries a negative connotation, often implying a smug, self-satisfied, or scornful smile. He smirked when he saw his rival fail. The student smirked, thinking he had outsmarted the teacher.

Examples of usage

She greeted him with a warm smile.
His smile lit up the room.
I couldn't help but smile back.

^{Context #2 | Verb}

show happiness

To smile is to form a facial expression by flexing the muscles at the sides of the mouth, often to show happiness or amusement. Smiling can also be a way to express friendliness or to make someone feel comfortable.

Synonyms

beam, grin, smirk.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

Word	Description / Examples
smile	A general expression of happiness or friendliness. Used in almost any positive situation, whether formal or informal. She gave a warm smile to the new employee. His smile lit up the room.
grin	A broad smile, often associated with amusement, mischief, or a positive reaction to something humorous. It can be informal. He couldn't hide his grin after the prank. She grinned at the funny joke.
beam	A very broad and radiant smile that shows great joy or pride. Often used to describe someone who is extremely happy or proud. She beamed with pride as her son graduated. He was beaming after hearing the good news.
smirk	A smug, conceited, or silly smile. Often has a negative connotation as it may imply someone is being overly self-satisfied or is mocking someone else. He smirked when he realized he was right. Her smirk suggested she knew more than she was saying.

Examples of usage

She smiled at the joke he told.
He smiled when he saw her coming towards him.

Translations

Translations of the word "smile" in other languages:

🇵🇹 sorrir

🇮🇳 मुस्कुराना

🇩🇪 lächeln

🇮🇩 senyum

🇺🇦 усміхатися

🇵🇱 uśmiechać się

🇯🇵 笑顔 (えがお, egao)

🇫🇷 sourire

🇪🇸 sonreír

🇹🇷 gülümsemek

🇰🇷 미소짓다 (misojitda)

🇸🇦 يبتسم (yabtasim)

🇨🇿 usmívat se

🇸🇰 usmievať sa

🇨🇳 微笑 (wēixiào)

🇸🇮 nasmehniti se

🇮🇸 brosa

🇰🇿 жымию

🇬🇪 ღიმილი (ghmili)

🇦🇿 gülümsəmək

🇲🇽 sonreír

Etymology

The word 'smile' originated from the Middle English word 'smilen,' which in turn came from the Old English word 'smilian,' meaning 'to smile or smirk.' The act of smiling has been recognized as a universal expression of happiness and friendliness across cultures and time periods.

Word Frequency Rank

At position #2,186, this word belongs to solid intermediate vocabulary. It's frequently used in both casual and formal contexts and is worth learning for better fluency.

...
2183 fill
2184 alcohol
2185 emergency
2186 smile
2187 bringing
2188 dog
2189 won
...