Meaning & use
smiler
Last updated
UK/ˈsmaɪlə/
US/ˈsmaɪlɚ/
Meaning
nouncountable
A person who smiles, especially one who smiles often or in a noticeable way.
Grammar: Usually takes an adjective: a constant smiler, a cheerful smiler.
Patterns
- a smiler
Our new neighbor is a natural smiler who greets everyone on the street.
She was never a big smiler in photographs.
The baby is a great smiler and brightens everyone's day.
Word forms
| plural | smilers |
|---|
Common combinations
- a natural smiler
- He's a natural smiler, so customers love him.
- a constant smiler
- The receptionist is a constant smiler.
- a shy smiler
- The toddler is a shy smiler who hides behind her mother.
- not much of a smiler
- My grandfather was not much of a smiler, but he was kind.
- a rare smiler
- The coach is a rare smiler, so his grin meant a lot.
Synonyms and how they differ
- grinner
- A grinner shows a wider, more open smile and the word is more playful than smiler.
- optimist
- An optimist expects good things to happen, and may or may not smile, so it is about attitude, not expression.
Opposites
frownergrump
Word family
Commonly confused: smiler or smile?
smiler vs smile
Smile is the expression or the action, while a smiler is the person who smiles.
Practice
What does 'He's not much of a smiler' suggest?
Choose one answer.
Not much of a smiler means the person does not smile often. The other options say something different that the sentence does not suggest.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “smiler”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.
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