# grin

/ˈɡɹɪn/ (US) · /ɡɹˈɪn/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/grin
Updated: 2026-06-20

## Senses

### 1. a wide smile

noun · CEFR B1

a big, wide smile that shows your teeth.

For teachers: 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.

### 2. to smile widely

verb · CEFR B1

to smile a big, wide smile that shows your teeth.

For teachers: 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.

### 3. to express by grinning

verb · CEFR B2

to show a feeling, like happiness or agreement, by smiling widely.

For teachers: 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.

## Examples

- He has a wide grin on his face.
- She couldn't hide her grin when she saw the surprise party her friends had planned.
- The Cheshire Cat is famous for leaving its mischievous grin behind even after its body has completely vanished into thin air.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.