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grinning

grinning

5 1.0
A wide smile that shows someone is happy or enjoying something
  • noun
  • /ˈɡrɪnɪŋ/
translation icon : sonrisa
  • She couldn't help but feel happy, her face grinning with pleasure at the surprise party.
  • grinning faces
  • grinning man

Examples

  • But his hands washed now as though free of all stain, his hands white, his arms ready to embrace his friends, his face all smiles, grinning from ear to ear.

  • That's just from grinning, baby, that's from pure happiness.

  • There were still a number of grinning faces pointed her way.

    Fiction book (1995)
  • I could imagine her grinning and saying, "I always knew you'd be East Coast."

    Fiction book (2000)
  • Face to face with a grinning and nodding Gutterbuhg.

    Fiction book (1990)
  • There were others standing in a semi-circle, with arms folded or hips jutting, some grinning.

    Fiction book (1996)
  • He held out his hands impatiently to the grinning ferryman who happily handed over his oars.

  • The child was grinning with delight as he opened his birthday presents.

  • After winning the game, the players were grinning widely as they celebrated their victory.

Synonyms

smile
vsgrinning
1.0

A facial expression with the mouth corners turned up to show happiness or friendliness

is more specific, stressing a particularly broad and clear mouth turn
grin
vsgrinning
139 1.0

A broad smile showing the teeth when someone is happy or amused

is the same but a touch broader and more obvious in effect
big smile
vsgrinning
47 1.0

A wide friendly movement of the mouth that shows happiness

is narrower, focusing on an especially broad mouth gesture
warm smile
vsgrinning
4 1.0

A friendly expression on the face that shows real kindness

leans more toward a wide, amused mouth display than gentle warmth
smiling
vsgrinning
1 1.0

A facial expression with the mouth corners turned up to show happiness or friendliness

is similar but implies a wider, more pronounced mouth expression
mahoosive grin
vsgrinning
  • Slang
8.9

A very large, wide smile that shows great happiness

is like that but less extreme in size or intensity
merry smile
vsgrinning
1.1

A happy look on someone's face that shows joy

focuses more on big, obvious mouth openness showing amusement
twinkly-eyed smile
vsgrinning
5.6

A warm happy expression with bright lively eyes

focuses mainly on a broad mouth turn rather than eye sparkle
effulgent smile
vsgrinning
  • Literature
8.7

A very bright smile that shows great happiness

is more about a wide mouth shape showing amusement than radiance
incandescent smile
vsgrinning
  • Literature
6.5

A bright warm look on someone's face that lights a room

stresses the broad, amused mouth shape rather than brightness or glow

Antonyms

54 1.0

A facial expression with the eyebrows pushed together showing dislike or worry

15 3.9

An angry look that shows you do not like something

How Smiling

grinning
5 1.0
smile
1.0

Surface Forms

grinning singular
grinnings plural

Morphology

grinning = grin (transparent) = grin + ing

A straightforward gerund/nominalization from the verb 'grin'; learners who know 'grin' can infer 'grinning'.

Etymology

Grinning comes from the old English verb grin, which once meant 'to show the teeth'. So a grinning is literally a broad smile that shows the teeth and tells us someone is pleased or amused.