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to beam

to beam

38 2.0
To smile in a very happy and proud way
  • verb
  • /biːm/
translation icon : sonreír
  • Suddenly, 11 pairs of eyes are beaming sweet messages at me.
  • beam a smile

Her sisters beamed, beckoning her to join, and Nesta smiled back, her steps light as she hurried down the hill to meet them.

Examples

  • Mom and Dad have gotta be looking down beaming with pride right about now.

  • And their sweet children will be present, beaming at the joy of their blessed parents.

    Blog text (8)
  • Look at your beaming face.

  • Why, Henry, you have such a beaming smile on your face.

  • I'm just beaming with pride.

  • Instead, Parkinson welcomed a beaming man filled with hope.

    Academic text (2007)
  • I've got a smile from ear to ear that is beaming sunshine all over the place.

    Blog text (18)
  • Steven was back, dripping wet, at two o'clock, and beaming at his victory.

    Fiction book (1991)
  • Linsey's cheeks were round and rosy with cold, but she beamed with goodwill.

    Academic text (2007)
  • "It's my day off," she beams, "and I'm going to the beach for some sport."

Synonyms

to smile
vsto beam
1.0

To turn the corners of your mouth up to show happiness or friendliness

is broader and more radiant showing stronger obvious happiness
to grin
vsto beam
132 1.0

Smile broadly, often showing the teeth when you feel happy, amused, or embarrassed

is broad and radiant but usually hides or lacks visible teeth
to glow
vsto beam
93 1.0

To have warm, healthy cheeks that show happiness

is an expressive mouth action showing very broad radiant pleasure
to shine
vsto beam
31 2.5

To look healthy, happy, or full of color in the face

is a facial action that expresses clear broad radiant pleasure
beaming
vsto beam
2.5

Smiling very widely and looking clearly happy

is very broad and radiant but centers on clear happy pleasure without pride

Antonyms

33 4.1

To give an angry look to show you do not like something

Idioms

Wide from side to side, like a boat that is very stable or a person with wide hips

Phrasal Verbs

to beam down
  • Specialized
3 5.3

A satellite or aircraft that sends signals down to the ground

1 4.1

Light that shines down from above, often from the sun

Compounds

laser beam
  • Specialized
17 3.9

A very narrow, bright light in one color that can cut or point at things

12 2.5

A narrow line of light from a lamp or the sun

particle beam
  • Specialized
7 6.8

A narrow, focused stream of tiny particles like electrons used in science and medicine

5 3.5

A bright headlight setting that lights far ahead for night driving

4 4.4

A narrow raised bar used in gymnastics for walking and acrobatic moves

4 2.2

A narrow column of light that you can see in the air

I-beam
  • Specialized
2 5.7

A long metal piece shaped like the letter I that supports buildings and bridges

electron beam
  • Specialized
1 4.6

A focused stream of tiny charged particles used to make images in special microscopes

1 3.7

A headlight setting that lights the road without blinding other drivers

beam scale
  • Specialized
1 5.2

A balance with a long bar that turns and uses a sliding weight to measure how heavy something is

L-beam
  • Specialized
1 5.7

A beam shaped like an L that supports edges and corners

load-bearing beam
  • Specialized
1 5.5

A strong piece of wood or metal that holds the weight of parts of a building

ion beam
  • Specialized
1 7.7

A stream of charged atoms or molecules that moves fast in one direction

beam balance
  • Specialized
5.3

A tool with a horizontal beam and two pans that compares weights

beam-ends
  • Archaic
9.9

Ends of the support pieces that run across a ship's deck when it leans nearly vertical

box beam
  • Specialized
6.7

A long hollow structure made from boards with a rectangular shape that supports parts of a building

A front light on a car that shines low to avoid blinding other drivers

A bright car light that shines straight ahead and should only be used when no other cars are near

A very bright car light that can blind other drivers and is used when no cars are nearby

A light setting that lights the road ahead without blinding other drivers

4.0

A headlight set to point down to avoid blinding other drivers

A strong front light on a car used when no other cars come because it can blind drivers

A headlight setting that lights the road without blinding other drivers

A bright car light that shines far and should be used only when no other cars are ahead

ionic beam
  • Specialized
9.1

A narrow stream of tiny charged particles used to change material surfaces

radio beam
  • Specialized
4.8

A narrow radio signal that helps pilots find the runway in poor visibility

A light on a car that makes a low beam to light the road without hurting other drivers' eyes

tie beam
  • Specialized
7.3

A long horizontal piece that stops two roof sides or walls spreading apart

spreader beam
  • Specialized
8.5

A beam that sits below a crane hook to spread weight when lifting heavy objects

How Happy

to beam
38 2.0
to grin
132 1.0
to smile
1.0

Surface Forms

beam infinitive
beamed past
beamed past participle
beaming present participle
beams third person singular

Etymology

Beam meaning to smile widely comes from the image of 'shining' with happiness, like your face gives out light. That's why to beam is to look bright and very happy.