Home > Antonyms > Antonyms for smiling

Antonyms for smiling

Grammar : Verb
Spell : smahyl
Phonetic Transcription : smaɪl

Definition of smiling

Origin :
  • c.1300, perhaps from Middle Low German *smilen or a Scandinavian source (e.g. Danish smile "smile," Swedish smila "smile, smirk, simper, fawn"), from Proto-Germanic *smil-, extended form of PIE root *smei- "to laugh, smile" (cf. Old English smerian "to laugh at, scorn," Old High German smieron "to smile," Latin mirus "wonderful," mirari "to wonder"). Related: Smiled; smiling.
  • Gradually pushed the usual Old English word, smearcian (modern smirk), into a specific, unpleasant sense. Of the eyes, from 1759. Figuratively, as indicating favor or encouragement, from c.1400. Romance, Celtic, and Slavic languages tend to use a diminutive of the word for "laugh" to mean "smile" (e.g. Latin ridere "laugh;" subridere "smile"), perhaps literally "small laugh" or "low laugh."
  • verb put on a happy expression
Example sentences :
  • The earth was like a slumbering babe, smiling in its sleep, because it dreams of Heaven.
  • Extract from : « Philothea » by Lydia Maria Child
  • "I am afraid I should make a poor hand at it," said Mrs. Rushton, smiling.
  • Extract from : « Brave and Bold » by Horatio Alger
  • "I don't believe he feels very friendly to me," said Robert, smiling.
  • Extract from : « Brave and Bold » by Horatio Alger
  • "I don't believe we shall quarrel on that point," said the widow, smiling.
  • Extract from : « Brave and Bold » by Horatio Alger
  • She was smiling now, and he caught a gleam of mischief in her eyes.
  • Extract from : « Viviette » by William J. Locke
  • "Pierre is as tall as his father," he said, smiling at the youth.
  • Extract from : « The Raid From Beausejour; And How The Carter Boys Lifted The Mortgage » by Charles G. D. Roberts
  • I see him smiling and debonair at the minute when I am in a ferment.
  • Extract from : « The Conquest of Fear » by Basil King
  • Mr. Durant looked over at her, and tried to keep his eyes from smiling.
  • Extract from : « Ester Ried Yet Speaking » by Isabella Alden
  • And, when he held out his hand, smiling: "I just had to do it, Mr. K."
  • Extract from : « K » by Mary Roberts Rinehart
  • Just then a French tourist came up and accosted us, smiling ruefully.
  • Extract from : « The Roof of France » by Matilda Betham-Edwards

Synonyms for smiling

Based on : Thesaurus.com - Gutenberg.org - Dictionary.com - Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019