Word
wince
US/ˈwɪns/
UK/wˈɪns/
Definition
v. to twist your face or pull back suddenly because something hurts or feels bad. You do this when you feel pain, fear, or embarrassment.
v. to recoil slightly or grimace involuntarily in response to pain, discomfort, or embarrassment.
Examples
“She winces when the nurse cleans the cut.”
“He winces at the loud noise from the construction site outside his window every morning.”
“Even years later, she still winces remembering the harsh criticism she received during her first public performance.”
Examples
simple
“She winces when the nurse cleans the cut.”
contextual
“He winces at the loud noise from the construction site outside his window every morning.”
complex
“Even years later, she still winces remembering the harsh criticism she received during her first public performance.”
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “wince” in context.
Verb
01. cause to wince
“The sudden bright light caused her to wince.”
verb + to + verb
02. make wince
“The loud scream made everyone wince in the cinema.”
verb + verb
03. wince at
“Many students winced at the harsh feedback.”
verb + prep
04. wince from
“He winced from the pain in his shoulder.”
verb + prep
Adjective
05. inwardly wince
“I inwardly winced at my embarrassing mistake in class.”
adv + verb
06. slightly wince
“He slightly winced as he stood up on his sore ankle.”
adv + verb
07. visibly wince
“She visibly winced when the nurse cleaned the cut.”
adv + verb
Noun
08. wince in pain
“The injured player winced in pain on the ground.”
verb + prep + noun
09. make someone wince
“The dentist's drill can make anyone wince.”
10. try not to wince
“I tried not to wince during the injection.”
11. wince and look away
“He winced and looked away from the deep cut.”
12. wince at the thought
“I wince at the thought of speaking in public.”
Usage
The verb is intransitive and takes no object; often followed by 'at'.
Real-World Examples
“U npacking assorted tubs of carrot sticks and salad, Keira Knightley winces apologetically.” “He winced in pain as his teammates came across to celebrate the goal at the Kocaeli Stadium in Izmit, about 100km outside Istanbul.” “Donald Trump winced at a loud US military flyover during an arrival ceremony for China’s president, Xi Jinping, at Joint Base Andrews in Maryland on Wednesday.” “In an instant my shoulder pain became easier to bear, as I felt at one with a caveman wincing as he reached up to apply the finishing touches to some wall art.” Etymology
From Middle English wyncen, from Anglo-Norman winchir (compare Old French guenchir), from Frankish wankjan, related to winkijan (“to flex, bend”). See also German winken.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Related words
- 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.B2 FirstIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.5.5–6.5TOEFL 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: 4.0–4.572–94TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.785–944
- Frequency
- Occasional
- Level
- B2 · Upper Intermediate
- Updated
- アルファベット
- 読み方の一覧 →
QR code
englishreference.com/q/wince