smirking
present participle ofsmirk
smirk
verb[IorT]
disapprovinguk/smɜːk/us/smɝːk/tosmilein a way thatexpressessatisfactionorpleasureabout having done something, orknowingsomething that is notknownby someoneelse:
I don't like the way hewinksand smirksatmewheneverheseesme.
He smirked his way through theinterview.
Compare
simperverb
- What are you smirking at?
- Thedefendantappearedto besniggeringand smirking.
- He willspendhis threeminutesofglorysmirkingtriumphantly.
Laughing and smiling
- amused
- be all smilesidiom
- be in convulsionsidiom
- be rolling in the aislesidiom
- be wreathed in smilesidiom
- bust
- dissolve
- gale
- gales of laughteridiom
- giggle
- giggler
- giggly
- grin
- quake
- rictus
- say cheeseidiom
- simper
- smile
- smiling
- stitch
Examplesofsmirking
smirking
In English, many past and present participles of verbs can be used as adjectives. Some of these examples may show the adjective use.
I do not think that water coming through someone's roof is a matter forsmirking.
From the
Hansard archive
Example from the Hansard archive. Contains Parliamentary information licensed under theOpen Parliament Licence v3.0
In fact, they have both beensmirkingtheir way through these debates and through radio and television studios.
From the
Hansard archive
Example from the Hansard archive. Contains Parliamentary information licensed under theOpen Parliament Licence v3.0
It is no use hissmirkingin his usual amiable way.
From the
Hansard archive
Example from the Hansard archive. Contains Parliamentary information licensed under theOpen Parliament Licence v3.0
I shall deal with that simply, without hersmirkingabout it.
From the
Hansard archive
Example from the Hansard archive. Contains Parliamentary information licensed under theOpen Parliament Licence v3.0
Perhapssmirkingis his only contribution to housing.
From the
Hansard archive
Example from the Hansard archive. Contains Parliamentary information licensed under theOpen Parliament Licence v3.0
Instead ofsmirking, it is about time that he invested something in the peace process, which is a great deal more important.
From the
Hansard archive
Example from the Hansard archive. Contains Parliamentary information licensed under theOpen Parliament Licence v3.0
They are sitting theresmirkingand laughing all the way to the bank.
From the
Hansard archive
Example from the Hansard archive. Contains Parliamentary information licensed under theOpen Parliament Licence v3.0
Neithersmirkingnor gnashing of teeth will help to prove its nutritional value.
From the
Hansard archive
Example from the Hansard archive. Contains Parliamentary information licensed under theOpen Parliament Licence v3.0
They have been reading books, laughing orsmirking.
From the
Hansard archive
Example from the Hansard archive. Contains Parliamentary information licensed under theOpen Parliament Licence v3.0
Thesmirkinggrin on his face at that time certainly conveyed a different impression to my mind.
From the
Hansard archive
Example from the Hansard archive. Contains Parliamentary information licensed under theOpen Parliament Licence v3.0
I was notsmirkingbut doubting his statements.
From the
Hansard archive
Example from the Hansard archive. Contains Parliamentary information licensed under theOpen Parliament Licence v3.0
His rathersmirkingattitude to what was meant by the phrase "best endeavours" was particularly disagreeable to us.
From the
Hansard archive
Example from the Hansard archive. Contains Parliamentary information licensed under theOpen Parliament Licence v3.0
He is smiling andsmirkingeven now.
From the
Hansard archive
Example from the Hansard archive. Contains Parliamentary information licensed under theOpen Parliament Licence v3.0
Smirking, he carries out this threat, but no ink escapes; apparently, the pen is empty.
From
This example is from Wikipedia and may be reused under a CC BY-SA license.
Wikipedia
This example is from Wikipedia and may be reused under a CC BY-SA license.The head features a face-switching gimmick, with a choice of straight-faced orsmirking.
FromThis example is from Wikipedia and may be reused under a CC BY-SA license.
Wikipedia
This example is from Wikipedia and may be reused under a CC BY-SA license.These examples are from corpora and from sources on the web. Any opinions in the examples do not represent the opinion of the Cambridge Dictionary editors or of Cambridge University Press or its licensors.
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- thesaurus/upskill
- thesaurus/upstanding
- thesaurus/upswing
- thesaurus/up-the-pace
- thesaurus/up-to-date
- thesaurus/up-to-the-minute
- thesaurus/up-to-your-ears-in-something
- thesaurus/up-to-your-eyeballs-in-something
- thesaurus/up-to-your-eyes-in-something
- thesaurus/up-to-your-neck-in-something
- thesaurus/upturn
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- thesaurus/urgent
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- thesaurus/useless
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- thesaurus/usual
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- thesaurus/utilitarian
- thesaurus/utter
- thesaurus/vacant
- thesaurus/vacuum
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- thesaurus/valiant