Meaning & use

smile

noun·Everyday

An expression formed by curving the lips upward to show pleasure, friendliness, or amusement.

See it in a sentence

A warm smile spread across her face when she saw the gift.

He gave a nervous smile before standing up to start his speech.

A note on using this word

As a verb, 'smile at' someone directs the expression toward a person, while 'smile about' refers to the reason for it.

Words with a similar meaning

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

Words with an opposite meaning

Another way to use it

2. verb

To form a smile, typically to show happiness, amusement, or friendliness.

She smiled warmly at the baby, who giggled happily in response.

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