wince
wince
verb (winces, winced, winced, wincing)
/wɪns/
intransitive
​wince (at something) to suddenly make an expression with your face that shows that you are embarrassed or feeling pain
He winced as a sharp pain shot through his left leg.
I still wince when I think about that stupid thing I said.
He winced inwardly at her harsh tone.
She switched on the light, wincing at the sudden brightness.
TOPICS Appearance C2
Collocations
adverb
a little
slightly
verb + wince
try not to
cause somebody to
make somebody
preposition
at
from
in
wince
noun
/wɪns/
usually singular
​an expression on your face that shows that you are embarrassed or feeling pain
a wince of pain
TOPICS Appearance C2
Word Origin
Middle English (originally in the sense ‘kick restlessly from pain or impatience’): from an Anglo-Norman French variant of Old French guenchir ‘turn aside’.