Smile Meaning and Usage with Examples

Meaning 1：smile (Smile)

Smile 🔊

/smaɪl/

n., v.

To have a happy expression on your face, where the corners of your mouth turn up.

smile 🔊

➕

/smaɪl/

n., v.

To form one's face into a pleased, kind, or amused expression, typically with the corners of the mouth turned up.

📁 Category：Behaviors & Actions 🔖 Level：Beginner

📘 Details & Usage

📖 Root Explanation

From Old English 'smilian', meaning to laugh or smile, of Germanic origin.

💡 Mnemonic

Remember: 'S' for sunshine, 'mile' for distance - a smile can brighten a mile.

📖 Example

She gave me a warm smile when I walked into the room, which made me feel welcome immediately. 🔊 She gave me a warm smile when I walked into the room, which made me feel welcome immediately.

🔗 Collocations

flash a smile – to give a quick, bright smile

wipe the smile off one's face – to make someone stop smiling, especially by saying something unpleasant

smile from ear to ear – to smile very broadly

🔄 Synonyms

grin (v.) – to smile broadly, often showing teeth

beam (v.) – to smile radiantly or happily

🚫 Antonyms

frown (v.) – to make a facial expression of displeasure

scowl (v.) – to make an angry or gloomy facial expression

🌱 Derivatives

smiling (adj.) – having a smile on one's face

smiley (adj.) – cheerful; smiling

smilingly (adv.) – in a smiling manner

📖 Cultural Story

Smile traces back to Proto-Germanic *smīlaną, related to Sanskrit smáyate, reflecting a universal human emotion that transcends cultures.