Wink vs. Blink — What's the Difference?

A wink is a facial expression made by briefly closing one eye. A wink is an informal mode of non-verbal communication usually signaling shared hidden knowledge or intent.

To close and open one or both of the eyes rapidly.

Close and open one eye quickly, typically to indicate that something is a joke or a secret or as a signal of affection or greeting

To look in astonishment or disbelief, typically with the eyes blinking

(of a bright object or a light) shine or flash intermittently

To look through half-closed eyes, as in a bright glare; squint

An act of winking

To give off light with intermittent gleams; flash on and off

To close and open the eyelid of one eye deliberately, as to convey a message, signal, or suggestion.

To pretend to be ignorant of; disregard or condone

To close and open the eyelids of both eyes; blink.

To waver or back down, as in a contest of wills

To shine fitfully; twinkle

To cause to blink

To close and open (an eye or the eyes) rapidly.

To hold back or remove from the eyes by blinking

To signal or express by winking

To refuse to recognize or face

The act of winking.

To transmit (a message) with a flashing light.

A signal or hint conveyed by winking.

The act or an instance of rapidly closing and opening the eyes or an eye.

The very brief time required for a wink; an instant.

An instant

A quick closing and opening of the eyelids; a blink.

(Scots) A quick look or glimpse; a glance.

A gleam or twinkle.

A flash of light; a twinkle.

(Informal) A brief period of sleep.

See iceblink.

To close one's eyes in sleep.

(intransitive) To close and reopen both eyes quickly.

(intransitive) To close one's eyes.

(transitive) To close and reopen one's eyes to remove (something) from on or around the eyes.

(intransitive) Usually followed by at: to look the other way, to turn a blind eye.

To wink; to twinkle with, or as with, the eye.

(intransitive) To close one's eyes quickly and involuntarily; to blink.

To see with the eyes half shut, or indistinctly and with frequent winking, as a person with weak eyes.

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.)

To shine, especially with intermittent light; to twinkle; to flicker; to glimmer, as a lamp.

(intransitive) To gleam fitfully or intermitently; to twinkle; to flicker.

To glance.

An act of winking (a blinking of only one eye), or a message sent by winking.

To flash on and off at regular intervals.

A brief period of sleep; especially forty winks.

To flash headlights on a car at.

A brief time; an instant.

To send a signal with a lighting device.

The smallest possible amount.

(hyperbole) To perform the smallest action that could solicit a response.

A subtle allusion.

(transitive) To shut out of sight; to evade; to shirk.

Senseid|en|tiddlywink}}(tiddlywinks) {{synonym of tiddlywink

To turn slightly sour, or blinky, as beer, milk, etc.

Synonym of periwinkle

To teleport, mostly for short distances.

To nod; to sleep; to nap.

The act of quickly closing both eyes and opening them again.

To shut the eyes quickly; to close the eyelids with a quick motion.

(figuratively) The time needed to close and reopen one's eyes.

To close and open the eyelids quickly; to nictitate; to blink.

(computing) A text formatting feature that causes text to disappear and reappear as a form of visual emphasis.

To give a hint by a motion of the eyelids, often those of one eye only.

A glimpse or glance.

To avoid taking notice, as if by shutting the eyes; to connive at anything; to be tolerant; - generally with at.

Gleam; glimmer; sparkle

To be dim and flicker; as, the light winks.

(nautical) The dazzling whiteness about the horizon caused by the reflection of light from fields of ice at sea; iceblink

To cause (the eyes) to wink.

Boughs cast where deer are to pass, in order to turn or check them.

The act of closing, or closing and opening, the eyelids quickly; hence, the time necessary for such an act; a moment.

(video games) An ability that allows teleporting, mostly for short distances

A hint given by shutting the eye with a significant cast.

To wink; to twinkle with, or as with, the eye.

A very short time (as the time it takes the eye blink or the heart to beat);

To see with the eyes half shut, or indistinctly and with frequent winking, as a person with weak eyes.

Closing one eye quickly as a signal

To shine, esp. with intermittent light; to twinkle; to flicker; to glimmer, as a lamp.

A reflex that closes and opens the eyes rapidly

To turn slightly sour, as beer, mild, etc.

Signal by winking;

To shut out of sight; to avoid, or purposely evade; to shirk; as, to blink the question.

Gleam or glow intermittently;

To trick; to deceive.

Briefly shut the eyes;

A glimpse or glance.

Force to go away by blinking;

Gleam; glimmer; sparkle.

The dazzling whiteness about the horizon caused by the reflection of light from fields of ice at sea; ice blink.

Boughs cast where deer are to pass, to turn or check them.

A reflex that closes and opens the eyes rapidly

Briefly shut the eyes;

Force to go away by blinking;

Gleam or glow intermittently;