noun · verb · 20 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.
/ˈwɪŋk/
[ˈwɪŋk]
US:Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
rhymes with -ɪŋk
CMU ARPABET:W IH1 NG K
Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.
1
noun
Meaning 1
An act of winking (a blinking of only one eye), or a message sent by winking.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: 😉, ;), ;-)
Antonyms: none provided
2
noun
Meaning 2
A brief period of sleep; especially forty winks.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
3
noun
Meaning 3
A brief time; an instant.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
4
noun
Meaning 4
The smallest possible amount.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
5
noun
Meaning 5
A subtle allusion.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Examples
The film includes a wink to wartime rationing.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
6
noun
Meaning 6
Synonym of tiddlywink (“small disc used in the game of tiddlywinks”).
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Qualifier: tiddlywinks
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: tiddlywink
Antonyms: none provided
7
noun
Meaning 7
Synonym of periwinkle (“type of mollusk”).
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: UK, slang
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: periwinkle
Antonyms: none provided
8
verb
Meaning 8
To close one's eyes in sleep.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: intransitive, obsolete
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
9
verb
Meaning 9
To close one's eyes.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: intransitive, obsolete
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
10
verb
Meaning 10
Usually followed by at: to look the other way, to turn a blind eye.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: archaic, intransitive
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: connive, shut one's eyes
Antonyms: none provided
11
verb
Meaning 11
To close one's eyes quickly and involuntarily; to blink.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: archaic, intransitive
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
12
verb
Meaning 12
To blink with only one eye as a message, signal, or suggestion, usually with an implication of conspiracy. (When transitive, the object may be the eye being winked, or the message being conveyed.)
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: intransitive, transitive
Examples
He winked at me. She winked her eye. He winked his assent.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
13
verb
Meaning 13
To gleam fitfully or intermittently; to twinkle; to flicker.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: intransitive
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
14
noun
Meaning 14
a reflex that closes and opens the eyes rapidly
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
From Middle English wynken, from Old English wincian (“to wink, make a sign, close the eyes, blink”, weak verb), from Proto-West Germanic *winkōn (“to close one's eyes”), from Proto-Indo-European *weng- (“to bow, bend, arch, curve”). Cognate with Middle Low German winken (“to blink, wink”), German winken (“to nod, beckon, make a sign”). Related also to Saterland Frisian wäänke, Dutch wenken (“to beckon, motion”), Latin vacillare (“sway”), Lithuanian véngti (“to swerve, avoid”), Albanian vang (“tire, felloe”), Sanskrit वङ्गति (vaṅgati, “(he, she) limps”), French guigner (“to eye, sneak a look at”).
Clipping of tiddlywink.
Clipping of periwinkle.
Across languages
Translations
169 source translations are retained for this English entry.
Arabic:
غَمْزَة
(ḡamza)
— blink of one eye
Arabic:
غمزة
(ḡamza)
— blink of one eye
Arabic:
غمزة
(ḡamza)
— blink of one eye
Aramaic:
רפפא
(rpāpā’)
— blink of one eye
Aramaic:
ܪܦܦܐ
(rpāpā’)
— blink of one eye
Czech:
mrknutí
— blink of one eye
Dutch:
knipoog
— blink of one eye
Finnish:
silmänisku
— blink of one eye
French:
clin d'œil
— blink of one eye
German:
Augenzwinkern
— blink of one eye
Hebrew:
קְרִיצָה
(qritzá)
— blink of one eye
Icelandic:
blikk
— blink of one eye
Ido:
palpebrago
— blink of one eye
Italian:
ammiccamento
— blink of one eye
Italian:
nittitazione
— blink of one eye
Italian:
batter d'occhio
— blink of one eye
Japanese:
ウインク
(uinku)
— blink of one eye
Korean:
윙크
(wingkeu)
— blink of one eye
Latvian:
pamirkšķināšana
— blink of one eye
Latvian:
mirkšķināšana
— blink of one eye
Norman:
clyîn
— blink of one eye
Norman:
clyîn dg'yi
— blink of one eye
Persian:
چشمک
(češmak)
— blink of one eye
Portuguese:
piscada
— blink of one eye
Romanian:
clipire
— blink of one eye
Russian:
подми́гивание
(podmígivanije)
— blink of one eye
Russian:
подма́ргивание
(podmárgivanije)
— blink of one eye
Scottish Gaelic:
caogadh
— blink of one eye
Scottish Gaelic:
priobadh
— blink of one eye
Serbo-Croatian:
ми̑г
— blink of one eye
Serbo-Croatian:
mȋg
— blink of one eye
Slovak:
žmurknutie
— blink of one eye
Spanish:
guiño
— blink of one eye
Spanish:
guiñada
— blink of one eye
Tagalog:
pagkindat
— blink of one eye
Telugu:
రెప్పపాటు
(reppapāṭu)
— blink of one eye
Walloon:
clignete
— blink of one eye
Finnish:
silmällinen
— brief period of sleep — see also forty winks
German:
eine Mütze Schlaf (voll)
— brief period of sleep — see also forty winks
German:
Nickerchen
— brief period of sleep — see also forty winks
Aramaic:
רפפא
(rpāpā’)
— brief time, instant
Aramaic:
ܪܦܦܐ
(rpāpā’)
— brief time, instant
Dutch:
ogenblik
— brief time, instant
Finnish:
silmänräpäys
— brief time, instant
German:
Augenblick
— brief time, instant
Hungarian:
szempillantás
— brief time, instant
Hungarian:
szemhunyásnyi
— brief time, instant
Italian:
attimo
— brief time, instant
Italian:
guizzo
— brief time, instant
Italian:
lampo
— brief time, instant
Latvian:
acumirklis
— brief time, instant
Latvian:
mirklis
— brief time, instant
Romanian:
clipă
— brief time, instant
Russian:
миг
(mig)
— brief time, instant
Scottish Gaelic:
priobadh
— brief time, instant
Telugu:
రెప్పపాటు
(reppapāṭu)
— brief time, instant
Finnish:
vilaus
— smallest possible amount
German:
Fitzelchen
— smallest possible amount
German:
Zipfel
— smallest possible amount
Finnish:
vihjaus
— subtle allusion
German:
Wink
— subtle allusion
German:
Fingerzeig
— subtle allusion
German:
Andeutung
— subtle allusion
Polish:
oczko
— subtle allusion
Arabic:
غَمَزَ
(ḡamaza)
— to blink with only one eye as a message, signal, or suggestion
Arabic:
غَمَز
(ḡamaz)
— to blink with only one eye as a message, signal, or suggestion
Armenian:
աչքով անել
(ačʻkʻov anel)
— to blink with only one eye as a message, signal, or suggestion
Asturian:
chisgar
— to blink with only one eye as a message, signal, or suggestion
Belarusian:
падмо́ргваць
(padmórhvacʹ)
— to blink with only one eye as a message, signal, or suggestion
Belarusian:
падмаргну́ць
(padmarhnúcʹ)
— to blink with only one eye as a message, signal, or suggestion
Belarusian:
падмі́гваць
(padmíhvacʹ)
— to blink with only one eye as a message, signal, or suggestion
Belarusian:
падмігну́ць
(padmihnúcʹ)
— to blink with only one eye as a message, signal, or suggestion
Central Bikol:
kiyat
— to blink with only one eye as a message, signal, or suggestion
Bulgarian:
нами́гвам
(namígvam)
— to blink with only one eye as a message, signal, or suggestion
Bulgarian:
прими́гвам
(primígvam)
— to blink with only one eye as a message, signal, or suggestion
Catalan:
fer l'ullet
— to blink with only one eye as a message, signal, or suggestion
Catalan:
picar l'ullet
— to blink with only one eye as a message, signal, or suggestion
Chinese Mandarin:
眨眼
(zhǎyǎn)
— to blink with only one eye as a message, signal, or suggestion
Chinese Mandarin:
眨眼睛
(zhǎ yǎnjīng)
— to blink with only one eye as a message, signal, or suggestion
Chinese Mandarin:
眨
(zhǎ)
— to blink with only one eye as a message, signal, or suggestion
Czech:
mrkat
— to blink with only one eye as a message, signal, or suggestion
Czech:
mrknout
— to blink with only one eye as a message, signal, or suggestion
Danish:
blinke
— to blink with only one eye as a message, signal, or suggestion
Dutch:
knipogen
— to blink with only one eye as a message, signal, or suggestion
Esperanto:
okulsigni
— to blink with only one eye as a message, signal, or suggestion
Finnish:
iskeä silmää
— to blink with only one eye as a message, signal, or suggestion
Finnish:
vilkuttaa
— to blink with only one eye as a message, signal, or suggestion
French:
cligner de l’œil
— to blink with only one eye as a message, signal, or suggestion
French:
faire un clin d'œil
— to blink with only one eye as a message, signal, or suggestion
Galician:
chiscar
— to blink with only one eye as a message, signal, or suggestion
Galician:
piscar
— to blink with only one eye as a message, signal, or suggestion
Galician:
choscar
— to blink with only one eye as a message, signal, or suggestion
Georgian:
თვალის ჩაკვრა
(tvalis čaḳvra)
— to blink with only one eye as a message, signal, or suggestion
Georgian:
თვალით ნიშნება
(tvalit nišneba)
— to blink with only one eye as a message, signal, or suggestion
German:
zuzwinkern
— to blink with only one eye as a message, signal, or suggestion
German:
zwinkern
— to blink with only one eye as a message, signal, or suggestion
Old High German:
winchen
— to blink with only one eye as a message, signal, or suggestion
Greek:
κλείνω το μάτι
(kleíno to máti)
— to blink with only one eye as a message, signal, or suggestion
Ancient Greek:
δενδίλλω
(dendíllō)
— to blink with only one eye as a message, signal, or suggestion
Ancient Greek:
σκαρδαμύσσω
(skardamússō)
— to blink with only one eye as a message, signal, or suggestion
Hindi:
आँख मारना
(ā̃kh mārnā)
— to blink with only one eye as a message, signal, or suggestion
Hungarian:
kacsint
— to blink with only one eye as a message, signal, or suggestion
Icelandic:
blikka
— to blink with only one eye as a message, signal, or suggestion
Ido:
palpebragar
— to blink with only one eye as a message, signal, or suggestion
Italian:
ammiccare
— to blink with only one eye as a message, signal, or suggestion
Italian:
strizzare l'occhio
— to blink with only one eye as a message, signal, or suggestion
Italian:
fare l'occhiolino
— to blink with only one eye as a message, signal, or suggestion
Italian:
biluxare
— to blink with only one eye as a message, signal, or suggestion
Japanese:
瞬く
(matataku)
— to blink with only one eye as a message, signal, or suggestion
Kazakh:
көз қысу
(köz qysu)
— to blink with only one eye as a message, signal, or suggestion
Korean:
눈을 깜빡이다
(nun-eul kkamppagida)
— to blink with only one eye as a message, signal, or suggestion
Kyrgyz:
көз ирмөө
(köz irmöö)
— to blink with only one eye as a message, signal, or suggestion
Kyrgyz:
көз кысуу
(köz kısuu)
— to blink with only one eye as a message, signal, or suggestion
Latin:
nicto
— to blink with only one eye as a message, signal, or suggestion
Latin:
conniveo
— to blink with only one eye as a message, signal, or suggestion
Latvian:
pamirkšķināt
— to blink with only one eye as a message, signal, or suggestion
Latvian:
mirkšķināt
— to blink with only one eye as a message, signal, or suggestion
Lingala:
liba
— to blink with only one eye as a message, signal, or suggestion
Marathi:
डोळा मारणे
(ḍoḷā mārṇe)
— to blink with only one eye as a message, signal, or suggestion
Middle English:
wynken
— to blink with only one eye as a message, signal, or suggestion
Norman:
clyinn'ter
— to blink with only one eye as a message, signal, or suggestion
Norman:
donner un clyîn
— to blink with only one eye as a message, signal, or suggestion
Norman:
faithe un clyîn
— to blink with only one eye as a message, signal, or suggestion
Norwegian:
blunke
— to blink with only one eye as a message, signal, or suggestion
Old English:
wincian
— to blink with only one eye as a message, signal, or suggestion
Old Saxon:
winkon
— to blink with only one eye as a message, signal, or suggestion
Persian:
چشمک زدن
(češmak zadan)
— to blink with only one eye as a message, signal, or suggestion
Polish:
mrugnąć
— to blink with only one eye as a message, signal, or suggestion
Polish:
puścić oko
— to blink with only one eye as a message, signal, or suggestion
Portuguese:
piscar (o olho)
— to blink with only one eye as a message, signal, or suggestion
Quechua:
ch'illmipakuy
— to blink with only one eye as a message, signal, or suggestion
Quechua:
ch'ipihyay
— to blink with only one eye as a message, signal, or suggestion
Romanian:
face cu ochiul
— to blink with only one eye as a message, signal, or suggestion
Russian:
подми́гивать
(podmígivatʹ)
— to blink with only one eye as a message, signal, or suggestion
Russian:
подмигну́ть
(podmignútʹ)
— to blink with only one eye as a message, signal, or suggestion
Russian:
мига́ть
(migátʹ)
— to blink with only one eye as a message, signal, or suggestion
Russian:
подма́ргивать
(podmárgivatʹ)
— to blink with only one eye as a message, signal, or suggestion
Russian:
подморгну́ть
(podmorgnútʹ)
— to blink with only one eye as a message, signal, or suggestion
Scottish Gaelic:
priob
— to blink with only one eye as a message, signal, or suggestion
Scottish Gaelic:
caog
— to blink with only one eye as a message, signal, or suggestion
Serbo-Croatian:
намигнути
— to blink with only one eye as a message, signal, or suggestion
Serbo-Croatian:
namignuti
— to blink with only one eye as a message, signal, or suggestion
Slovak:
mrkať
— to blink with only one eye as a message, signal, or suggestion
Slovak:
mrknúť
— to blink with only one eye as a message, signal, or suggestion
Spanish:
guiñar
— to blink with only one eye as a message, signal, or suggestion
Spanish:
picar el ojo
— to blink with only one eye as a message, signal, or suggestion
Spanish:
cucar
— to blink with only one eye as a message, signal, or suggestion
Spanish:
bizquear
— to blink with only one eye as a message, signal, or suggestion
Tok Pisin:
brukim ai
— to blink with only one eye as a message, signal, or suggestion
Turkish:
göz kırpmak
— to blink with only one eye as a message, signal, or suggestion
Turkish:
kaş göz etmek
— to blink with only one eye as a message, signal, or suggestion
Ukrainian:
підмо́ргувати
(pidmórhuvaty)
— to blink with only one eye as a message, signal, or suggestion
Ukrainian:
підморгну́ти
(pidmorhnúty)
— to blink with only one eye as a message, signal, or suggestion
Vietnamese:
đá lông nheo
— to blink with only one eye as a message, signal, or suggestion
Vietnamese:
nháy mắt
— to blink with only one eye as a message, signal, or suggestion
Woiwurrung:
milip-milip-boni
— to blink with only one eye as a message, signal, or suggestion
