Meaning & use

grinning

verb·Everyday

Present participle of grin: smiling broadly, often showing the teeth, to express amusement or pleasure.

See it in a sentence

He walked in grinning from ear to ear after hearing the good news.

The children were grinning mischievously as they hid behind the couch.

A note on using this word

Grinning often suggests a wider, more unrestrained smile than a simple smile, and can sometimes imply mischief rather than pure happiness.

Words with a similar meaning

beamingsmirking

Choose a synonym to suit the sentence. Meanings can overlap without being identical.

Make it your own

Write a sentence using “grinning”, then compare your use with the examples above.

Your draft stays on this page and is not sent anywhere.