noun
grin
grihn
noun
1
A wide smile that shows the teeth.
"A huge grin spread across her face when she opened the gift."
verb
1
To smile broadly, showing the teeth.
"He grinned from ear to ear after winning the race."
"She couldn't stop grinning at the good news."
How to Use Grin
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA big, teeth-showing smile, or the act of flashing one.
Common pairings
a wide grin
grin from ear to ear
grin and bear it
Word Forms
grinned past tense, grins plural, grins plural, grins singular
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Etymology
From Old English grennian, originally meaning to bare the teeth like a snarling animal — the word softened over time from a hostile grimace into today's friendly, toothy smile.