Meaning & use
smirks
Last updated
“smirks” is a form of “smirk”. See that entry for the full set of meanings.
Meanings
nouncountabledisapproving
A small, self-satisfied smile that shows you feel pleased with yourself or superior to someone.
Grammar: Countable: one smirk, two smirks; often used with a verb like give or wear.
Patterns
- give a smirk
- wear a smirk
- a smirk on someone's face
He answered with a smirk, as if the question had been silly.
There was a smirk on her face when she heard she had won.
The teacher's smirk told us he already knew the answer.
verbintransitivedisapproving
To smile in a small, self-satisfied way that shows you feel pleased with yourself.
Grammar: No object; often followed by at: he smirked at me.
Patterns
- smirk at someone
- smirk to yourself
- smirk about something
She smirked at her brother when she beat him at chess.
He smirked to himself as he read the angry email.
Stop smirking — this is a serious meeting.
verbtransitivedisapprovingliterary
To say something in a way that shows you feel pleased with yourself or think you are clever.
Grammar: Takes an object, usually a quoted remark: "Of course I knew," he smirked.
Patterns
- smirk something
- "...", someone smirked
"I told you so," she smirked.
"Easy," he smirked, and walked away.
Word forms
| base form | smirk |
|---|---|
| third person singular | smirks |
| past tense | smirked |
| past participle | smirked |
| -ing form | smirking |
Common combinations
- a smug smirk
- He gave a smug smirk when his name was called.
- wipe the smirk off someone's face
- Her defeat wiped the smirk off her face.
- smirk at someone
- The boys smirked at the new student.
- a knowing smirk
- She gave a knowing smirk, as if she had a secret.
- smirk with satisfaction
- He smirked with satisfaction at the finished report.
Synonyms and how they differ
- grin
- A grin is a broad, open smile that can be friendly; a smirk is smaller and shows smugness, so it sounds negative.
- sneer
- A sneer is stronger and shows open contempt; a smirk is quieter and more about self-satisfaction.
- smile
- Smile is neutral and usually warm; use smirk only when the smile suggests pride or superiority.
Opposites
Word family
- smirking adjective
- Wearing a self-satisfied smile: a smirking teenager.
- smirkingly adverb
- In a self-satisfied, smiling way (rare).
Commonly confused: smirks or smirk? smirks or smear?
smirks vs smirk
"Smirk" is the base form; "smirks" is used with he, she, it or as a plural noun. Don't write "he smirk" in the present tense.
smirks vs smear
Smear means to spread something or to damage someone's reputation; it sounds similar but has a completely different meaning.
Practice
Which sentence uses "smirks" correctly?
Choose one answer.
"Smirks" is the third-person singular present of the verb, so it fits "he smirks" and needs no object. Options 2 and 3 wrongly give it an object, and option 4 uses the -s form with "they," which should be "smirk."
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “smirks”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.