smile
noun · verb
Simple meaning
To make a happy face by turning up the corners of your mouth.
Pronunciation
Say it like this:
smylIPA pronunciation (US)
ˈsmaɪl
This word is pronounced essentially the same in American and British English, so one transcription covers both.
IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) is a standard way of writing speech sounds.
Definition
Everyday modern meanings first, grouped by part of speech.
noun
A facial expression characterized by turning up the corners of the mouth; usually shows pleasure or amusement
A facial expression comprised by flexing the muscles of both ends of one's mouth, often showing the front teeth, without vocalisation, and in humans is a common involuntary or voluntary expression of happiness, pleasure, amusement, goodwill, or anxiety.
figurative
Favour; propitious regard.
verb
intransitive
To express amusement, pleasure, or love and kindness.
transitive
To express by smiling.
intransitive
To be propitious or favourable; to countenance.
intransitive
To look cheerful and joyous; to have an appearance suited to excite joy.
intransitive
Of ackee fruit: to open fully, indicating that it is no longer toxic, and ready to be picked.
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Word at a Glance
- Difficulty
- B1 · Intermediate
- Frequency
- Common
- Typical Use
- Varies by meaning
Word Aura™
How this word commonly comes across.
Aura for this meaning
This meaning: A facial expression characterized by turning up the corners of the mouth; usually shows pleasure or amusement
Used this way, smile is a reasonably familiar word with a clearly warm, approving pull. It usually sounds natural in a wide range of settings.
- Emotional tone
- Positive
- Formality
- Neutral
- Intensity
- Moderate
- How common
- Moderately common
- Connotation
- Positive and appreciative
- Usage feel
- Neutral and straightforward
Word Aura describes common impressions, not a measurement. Tone changes with sentence, speaker, relationship and situation.
More ways to use smile
- “He always puts a smile on my face.”noun
- “To smile consent, or a welcome.”verb
- “The gods smiled on his labours.”verb
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Common Patterns and Combinations
How this word naturally appears with others.
Word Family
Related forms, grouped by how they connect.
Related Words
Connected to the same idea, not synonyms.
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Dictionary data from Wiktionary via the Free Dictionary API. Simple meanings, combinations and word intelligence are built from verified reference data, no AI is used to load this page.