Word
grin
US/ˈɡɹɪn/
UK/ɡɹˈɪn/
Definitions
01a wide smile
B1 · Intermediate Countable noun
n. a big, wide smile that shows your teeth.
n. a facial expression characterized by a broad smile that reveals the teeth.
“He had a huge grin on his face after winning the race.”
“A mischievous grin spread across her face as she realized her prank had worked perfectly.”
Antonyms
02to smile widely
B1 · Intermediate
v. to smile a big, wide smile that shows your teeth.
v. to smile broadly, typically exposing the teeth in an expression of amusement or pleasure.
“The children were grinning from ear to ear when they saw the cake.”
“The professor grinned at the student's clever observation, clearly impressed by the depth of the analysis.”
Antonyms
03to express by grinning
B2 · Upper Intermediate
v. to show a feeling, like happiness or agreement, by smiling widely.
v. to express or communicate a specific emotion or state of mind through the act of grinning.
“He grinned his approval when I suggested going for pizza.”
“She simply grinned her delight, unable to find the words to describe how much the surprise meant to her.”
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “grin” in context.
Verb
01. flash a grin
“He flashed a quick grin at the camera before stepping onto the stage.”
verb + noun
02. suppress a grin
“She tried to suppress a grin when she saw his ridiculous new haircut.”
verb + noun
03. wipe the grin off his face
“The sudden bad news was enough to wipe the grin off his face instantly.”
verb + noun + prep + possessive + noun
Adjective
04. lopsided grin
“He gave her a charming, lopsided grin that made him look younger than he was.”
adj + noun
05. mischievous grin
“With a mischievous grin, the child hid the keys behind her back.”
adj + noun
06. sheepish grin
“After realizing he was in the wrong room, he offered a sheepish grin and left.”
adj + noun
Preposition
07. with a grin
“He accepted the trophy with a grin that stretched from ear to ear.”
prep + noun
Real-World Examples
“In another , Anastasia grins at the camera as she sneaks a puff of her father’s cigarette.” “With a self-effacing grin, they point out that those photos are “in the back” of the venue.” Etymology
From Middle English grinnen, from Old English grennian, from Proto-West Germanic grannjōn, from Proto-Germanic granjōną. Related to groan. Compare to Middle High German grennen (“to mutter, complain”) and Danish grine (“to show one's teeth, to laugh”)
From Middle English grin, grinne, grine, from Old English grin (“snare, noose”), of uncertain origin, but probably from the merger of Proto-West Germanic garni and garnī (“intestine”), ultimately from Proto-Germanic garniz, garnō (“guts, intestine”). Related to English yarn.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
NOUN
ADJECTIVE
Related words
Idioms
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.C1 AdvancedIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.7.0–8.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 5.0–5.595–113TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.945–990
- Frequency
- Frequent
- Level
- C1 · AdvancedOxford
- Updated
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