smile
smile
/smaɪl/
to smile slightly/broadly
to smile sweetly/warmly/brightly
to smile weakly/faintly/softly/sadly
He never seems to smile.
‘That's easy,’ Elizabeth said, smiling.
Looking up from my book, I saw Monica's smiling face.
He smiled to think how naive he used to be.
smile at somebody/something She smiled at him and he smiled back.
She smiled at the thought of finally being able to see him again.
I had to smile at (= was amused by) his optimism.
Her eyes smiled up at him.
smile with/in something He smiled with relief.
She smiled in satisfaction.
Collocations
adverb
verb + smile
try to
manage to
make somebody…
preposition
at
with
phrases
smile down at somebody
smile up at somebody
smile from ear to ear…
2 transitive to say or express something with a smile smile something She smiled her thanks.
+ speech ‘Perfect,’ he smiled.
to smile a small smile
She smiled a smile of dry amusement.
Idioms
Phrasal Verbs
smile
/smaɪl/
the expression that you have on your face when you are happy or you think something is funny, in which the corners of your mouth turn upwards
a broad/warm/bright/slight smile
with a smile ‘Oh, hello,’ he said, with a smile.
‘Well, that's life,’ she said with a wry smile.
He greeted me with a big smile.
He gave a weak smile as she approached.
He had a huge smile on his face.
The thought brought a smile to her face.
Here's a story that is guaranteed to put a smile on your face.
I'm going to wipe that smile off your face (= make you stop thinking this is funny).
Her face broke into a smile.
Her welcoming smile at the sight of him was a good sign.
He allowed himself a small smile of satisfaction.
Collocations
adjective
… of a smile
verb + smile
smile + verb
preposition
with a smile
smile of
phrases
have a smile on your face
bring a smile to somebody’s face
put a smile on somebody’s face
Idioms
Word Origin
Middle English: perhaps of Scandinavian origin; related to smirk.