Standard Lemma guide

grinning

noun · verb · 3 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.

  • /ˈɡɹɪnɪŋ/
  • US: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
  • rhymes with -ɪnɪŋ
  • CMU ARPABET: G R IH1 N IH0 NG Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.

1

noun

Meaning 1

The act or expression of one who grins.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: countable, uncountable

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

verb

Meaning 2

present participle and gerund of grin

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: form-of, gerund, participle, present

Examples

  • I’m grinning because someone told me a joke.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

3

noun

Meaning 3

a facial expression characterized by turning up the corners of the mouth; usually shows pleasure or amusement

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: smile, smiling, grin

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: facial expression, facial gesture

Narrower terms: simper, smirk

History

Etymology

No etymology was provided for this word.

Real reading context

grinning in complete knowledge articles