Word

grin

noun C1

/ɡɹɪn/

Meanings

noun

A broad smile, often showing teeth, expressing amusement, pleasure, or confidence.

verb

To smile broadly, often showing teeth, because you are amused, pleased, or slightly embarrassed.

Definition

A grin is a broad smile, often showing teeth, that can suggest pleasure, amusement, or confidence.

A grin is a wide smile that often shows your teeth. People usually grin when they feel amused or pleased, but it can also show confidence, mischief, or embarrassment. The word can be used as a noun (“a grin”) or a verb (“to grin”).

Examples

I couldn’t suppress a grin when the presenter recovered so smoothly from the interruption.
You might grin at the joke now, but the irony becomes clearer after you reread the final paragraph.
He answered with a quick grin, as if he already knew exactly how the meeting would end.
She gave a tired grin and kept working, determined not to let the setback derail her progress.

Common mistake

Learners sometimes confuse "grin" with "grind" because they look similar, but their meanings and pronunciation are different.