SMILING

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does smiling mean? 

• SMILING (noun)
  The noun SMILING has 1 sense:

1. a facial expression characterized by turning up the corners of the mouth; usually shows pleasure or amusement

  Familiarity information: SMILING used as a noun is very rare.

• SMILING (adjective)
  The adjective SMILING has 1 sense:

1. smiling with happiness or optimism

  Familiarity information: SMILING used as an adjective is very rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• SMILING (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

A facial expression characterized by turning up the corners of the mouth; usually shows pleasure or amusement

Classified under:

Nouns denoting communicative processes and contents

Synonyms:

grin; grinning; smile; smiling

Hypernyms ("smiling" is a kind of...):

facial expression; facial gesture (a gesture executed with the facial muscles)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "smiling"):

simper (a silly self-conscious smile)

smirk (a smile expressing smugness or scorn instead of pleasure)

Derivation:

smile (change one's facial expression by spreading the lips, often to signal pleasure)

smiling (smiling with happiness or optimism)

• SMILING (adjective)

Sense 1

Meaning:

Smiling with happiness or optimism

Synonyms:

beamish; smiling; twinkly

Context example:

a round red twinkly Santa Claus

Similar:

cheerful (being full of or promoting cheer; having or showing good spirits)

Derivation:

smiling (a facial expression characterized by turning up the corners of the mouth; usually shows pleasure or amusement)

 Context examples 

The times I've passed by houses where dances an' parties was goin' on, an' heard the women laugh, an' saw their white dresses and smiling faces through the windows—Gee!

(Martin Eden, by Jack London)

“Well, certainly that is also a conceivable hypothesis,” said Holmes, smiling.

(The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

You have a very smiling scene before you.

(Mansfield Park, by Jane Austen)

You’ve been near many smiling people lately, and it suggests that you are forming a community of those who love and support you.

(AstrologyZone.com, by Susan Miller)

—smiling and friendly, when it was so treacherous, that I go half wild when I think of it.

(David Copperfield, by Charles Dickens)

“I mean that he has done it,” answered Mr. Knightley, with smiling but determined decision, “and been accepted.”

(Emma, by Jane Austen)

"And I think I shall need their service just those three times," answered Glinda, smiling.

(The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, by L. Frank Baum)

I contented myself with smiling wearily.

(The Lost World, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

"Handsome faces—eyes particularly," answered Meg, smiling to herself in the dark.

(Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott)

"I can explain this too," cried Mrs Smith, smiling.

(Persuasion, by Jane Austen)