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Grin vs. Smile — What's the Difference?

Difference Between Grin and Smile

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Definitions

Grin

Smile broadly
Dennis appeared, grinning cheerfully

Smile

A smile is formed primarily by flexing the muscles at the sides of the mouth. Some smiles include a contraction of the muscles at the corner of the eyes, an action known as a Duchenne smile.

Grin

A broad smile
A silly grin

Smile

A facial expression characterized by an upward curving of the corners of the mouth and indicating pleasure, amusement, or derision.

Grin

To smile broadly, often baring the teeth, as in amusement, glee, embarrassment, or other strong emotion.

Smile

To have or form a smile.
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Grin

To express with a grin
I grinned my approval.

Smile

To look with favor or approval
Fortune smiled on our efforts.

Grin

The act of grinning.

Smile

To express cheerful acceptance or equanimity
We smiled at the bad weather and kept going.

Grin

The facial expression produced by grinning.

Smile

To express with a smile
Grandmother smiled her consent.
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Grin

A smile in which the lips are parted to reveal the teeth.

Smile

A facial expression comprised by flexing the muscles of both ends of one's mouth, often showing the front teeth, without vocalisation, and in humans is a common involuntary or voluntary expression of happiness, pleasure, amusement, goodwill, or anxiety.
She's got a perfect smile.
He has a sinister smile.
She had a smile on her face.
He always puts a smile on my face.

Grin

(obsolete) A snare; a gin.

Smile

(figurative) Favour; propitious regard.
The smile of the gods

Grin

(intransitive) To smile, parting the lips so as to show the teeth.
Why do you grin?
Did I say something funny?

Smile

A drink bought by one person for another.

Grin

(transitive) To express by grinning.
She grinned pleasure at his embarrassment.

Smile

(ambitransitive) To have (a smile) on one's face.
When you smile, the whole world smiles with you.
I don't know what he's smiling about.
She smiles a beautiful smile.

Grin

To show the teeth, like a snarling dog.

Smile

(transitive) To express by smiling.
To smile consent, or a welcome

Grin

(transitive) To grin as part of producing a particular facial expression, such as a smile or sneer.
He grinned a broad smile when I told him the result.
He grinned a cruel sneer when I begged him to stop.

Smile

(intransitive) To express amusement, pleasure, or love and kindness.

Grin

A snare; a gin.
Like a bird that hasteth to his grin.

Smile

(intransitive) To look cheerful and joyous; to have an appearance suited to excite joy.
The sun smiled down from a clear summer sky.

Grin

The act of closing the teeth and showing them, or of withdrawing the lips and showing the teeth; a hard, forced, or sneering smile.
He showed twenty teeth at a grin.

Smile

(intransitive) To be propitious or favourable; to countenance.
The gods smiled on his labours.

Grin

To show the teeth, as a dog; to snarl.

Smile

To express amusement, pleasure, moderate joy, or love and kindness, by the features of the face; to laugh silently.
He doth nothing but frown. . . . He hears merry tales and smiles not.
She smiled to see the doughty hero slain.
When last I saw thy young blue eyes, they smiled.

Grin

To set the teeth together and open the lips, or to open the mouth and withdraw the lips from the teeth, so as to show them, as in laughter, scorn, or pain.
The pangs of death do make him grin.

Smile

To express slight contempt by a look implying sarcasm or pity; to sneer.
'T was what I said to Craggs and Child,Who praised my modesty, and smiled.

Grin

To express by grinning.
Grinned horrible a ghastly smile.

Smile

To look gay and joyous; to have an appearance suited to excite joy; as, smiling spring; smiling plenty.
The desert smiled,And paradise was opened in the wild.

Grin

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

Smile

To be propitious or favorable; to favor; to countenance; - often with on; as, to smile on one's labors.

Grin

To draw back the lips and reveal the teeth, in a smile, grimace, or snarl

Smile

To express by a smile; as, to smile consent; to smile a welcome to visitors.

Smile

To affect in a certain way with a smile.
And sharply smile prevailing folly dead.

Smile

The act of smiling; a peculiar change or brightening of the face, which expresses pleasure, moderate joy, mirth, approbation, or kindness; - opposed to frown.
Sweet intercourseOf looks and smiles: for smiles from reason flow.

Smile

A somewhat similar expression of countenance, indicative of satisfaction combined with malevolent feelings, as contempt, scorn, etc; as, a scornful smile.

Smile

Favor; countenance; propitiousness; as, the smiles of Providence.

Smile

Gay or joyous appearance; as, the smiles of spring.
The brightness of their [the flowers'] smile was gone.

Smile

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

Smile

Change one's facial expression by spreading the lips, often to signal pleasure

Smile

Express with a smile;
She smiled her thanks

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