😉 One-eye signal 😣 Blinking quickly

winking

1 2.2

Closing and opening the eyes repeatedly because of light or irritation

noun
/ˈwɪŋkɪŋ/

: parpadeo

The child's winking was so cute that everyone at the party laughed.

Examples

At least the winking... the winking has to stop.

Kung Pow: Enter the Fist (2002)
I use like the red heart and :) winking face with stuck winking face with stuck out.
From the lobby, the fat Argentine acknowledged him with grand gestures and excessive winking.

Fiction book (1997)
The wreck is brilliant in the midday sun and, surrounded by winking cubes of glass, oddly beautiful.

Fiction book (2001)
She noticed the winking of the lights in the distance as they drove through the city.
His constant winking made her wonder if he was trying to signal something.

Synonyms

to blink

vswinking

181 1.0

To close and open the eyelids quickly without thinking

is typically repeated and reflexive especially to light or irritation

to wink

vswinking

54 1.0

To close and open one eye quickly to signal or greet someone

is usually a repeated reflex reaction to light or to eye irritation

to bat

vswinking

23 7.4

To quickly close and open the eyelids as a sign

is more of a repeated reflexive closing often caused by light or irritation

to flutter

vswinking

10 3.7

To move the eyelids quickly and lightly, like a short blink

is stronger repeated closing usually reflexive and triggered by light or irritation

to nictitate

vswinking

Specialized

1 9.9

To close and open the eyes briefly

is more linked to repeated reflexes from light or irritation

to blinking

vswinking

1.0

To close and open the eyes quickly and repeatedly

is more often a reflex to light or irritation rather than a single gesture

to eyeblink

vswinking

3.0

To close and open the eyelid very quickly

is repeated rapid closing usually caused by bright light or irritation

to nictate

vswinking

Specialized

9.9

To close and open the eyes quickly

is specifically repeated often caused by light or irritation

to palpebrate

vswinking

9.9

To close and open the eyelids quickly, often several times

is used for repeated reflex actions often due to light or irritation

Antonyms

to stare

∞ 1.0

To look at someone or something for a long time without moving your eyes

How Automatic

blinking

13 1.0

winking

1 2.2

Surface Forms

winking singular

winkings plural

Morphology

winking = wink (semi-transparent) = wink + ing

Formally 'wink' + '-ing' is transparent, but this sense overlaps with 'blink' (a reflexive rapid eye-closing) and may confuse learners expecting the communicative meaning of 'wink'.

Etymology

Winking comes from the old English verb wincian, which meant 'to close the eyes', and is like the common word blink. That's why 'winking' can also mean quickly closing and opening the eyes as a reflex to light or irritation.