Meaning & use
wince
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Meanings
verbintransitive
To make a quick, small movement of the face or body because of pain or unpleasantness.
Grammar: No object; often followed by at or in: she winced at the sound.
Patterns
- wince at something
- wince in pain
He winced as the nurse cleaned the cut.
She winced at the sound of chalk on the board.
I winced when I saw the price.
nouncountable
A brief tightening of the face showing pain or embarrassment.
Grammar: Often with a: give a wince.
Patterns
- a wince of pain
He gave a wince when he stood up.
A slight wince crossed her face at the mention of his name.
The audience let out a collective wince.
Word forms
| third person singular | winces |
|---|---|
| past tense | winced |
| past participle | winced |
| -ing form | wincing |
Common combinations
- wince in pain
- The player winced in pain after landing awkwardly.
- wince at the thought
- I wince at the thought of speaking in public.
- visibly wince
- He visibly winced at the harsh review.
- make someone wince
- The loud noise made everyone wince.
- wince with embarrassment
- She winced with embarrassment at her old photos.
Synonyms and how they differ
- flinch
- Flinch is a quick pull away from something feared, while wince is a facial reaction to something painful.
- cringe
- Cringe often lasts longer and suggests secondhand embarrassment.
- grimace
- Grimace is a deliberate or lasting twist of the face, while wince is brief and involuntary.
- recoil
- Recoil is a stronger movement away, usually from shock or disgust.
Word family
Commonly confused: wince or winch?
wince vs winch
A winch is a machine for pulling or lifting, and has no connection with a facial reaction.
Practice
He ___ when the dentist touched the sore tooth.
Choose one answer.
Winced shows a quick pained reaction; winked is a deliberate eye gesture and fails here.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “wince”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.