smiling

smiling — adjective

1. having a happy expression on your face, with the corners of your mouth turned up

1.adjectiveA2
Definition

having a happy expression on your face, with the corners of your mouth turned upward, especially when you are pleased, amused, or friendly

Example

A smiling flight attendant welcomed everyone onto the plane.

attributive use before a noun

Wei's smiling face appeared at the window when I knocked.

collocation: smiling face

Common collocations
  • smiling face
  • smiling eyes
  • smiling expression
  • smiling look
Synonyms
  • cheerful

    describes a general happy mood, not just the facial expression

  • grinning

    suggests a wider smile that shows the teeth

  • beaming

    suggests a very bright, radiant smile, often with great happiness

Antonyms
  • frowning

    the opposite facial expression, with eyebrows drawn together

  • scowling

    an angry or annoyed facial expression

Grammar Patterns

smiling + noun (attributive)

be + smiling (predicative)

Usage Note

Commonly used before nouns like 'face', 'eyes', 'expression', or 'look' to describe a friendly, happy appearance. Also often used predicatively after a form of 'be'.

Common Mistakes

The baby was sleeping with smiling.
The baby was sleeping with a smile.
'smiling' is an adjective or verb, not a noun; use 'a smile' as a noun after 'with'.
He was smiling loudly.
He was laughing loudly.
'smile' describes a quiet facial expression; 'laugh' describes the sound of amusement.

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: adjective/1

All four words describe a positive facial expression or mood, but differ in intensity and what they emphasise. 'Smiling' is the most neutral and general — it simply describes a face with an upward-turned mouth, whether from politeness, happiness, or amusement. 'Cheerful' goes beyond the face to describe a person's overall bright, positive mood ('a cheerful tone of voice'). 'Grinning' implies a wider, more noticeable smile where the teeth show — it can suggest delight, mischief, or even smugness ('the child was grinning after hiding the toy'). 'Beaming' is the strongest, suggesting a face that 'shines' with joy, often from pride or deep happiness ('the graduate was beaming as she accepted her diploma'). Choose 'smiling' for everyday, moderate happiness; use 'beaming' for intense joy and 'grinning' for a wider, more playful expression.

smiling ↗cheerful ↗grinningbeaming

Common collocations

Nouns

Phrases

  • with a smiling face
  • keep a smiling expression

Etymology

Proto-GermanicOld EnglishMiddle EnglishEnglish

Comes from the present participle of the verb 'smile', which traces back to Old English 'smīlan' (to smile or be astonished), from a Proto-Germanic root 'smīlijaną'. This root may be related to Latin 'mirārī' (to wonder at), suggesting an ancient link between smiling and feelings of pleasant surprise. The adjective form, describing a person's appearance, has been in use since the 1500s.