wink Definition
wink (wiŋk)
intransitive verb
- to close the eyelids and open them again quickly
- to close one eyelid and open it again quickly, as a signal, etc.
- to be closed and opened in this way: said of the eye
- to shine intermittently; twinkle
Etymology: ME winken < OE wincian, akin to Ger winken: see winch
transitive verb
- to make (the eyes or an eye) wink
- to move, remove, etc. by winking: usually with back or away to wink back tears
- to signal or express by winking
noun
- the act of winking
- the time occupied by this; an instant
- a tiny interval (of sleep)
- a signal, hint, etc. given by winking
- a twinkle or twinkling
wink Idioms
wink at
to pretend not to see, as in connivance
wink Synonyms
wink
v.
wink usually implies a usually deliberate movement in the quick closing and opening of one or both eyelids one or more times he winked at her knowingly; blink implies a rapid series of such movements, usually performed involuntarily and with the eyes half-shut to blink in the harsh sunlight
wink Usage Examples
Object
- eye: Oh, yes, it's all very well to wink one eye at me; I'd make you wink both.
- light: Against a waterlogged, leaden gray sky, the zinc gray airship drifted slowly winking a tiny orange light.
Converse of object
- nudge: Hope to see you at Chunkie's party, will you be wearing " it " again, nudge nudge wink wink?
- sleep: He had not slept a wink all night, trying to figure out his best move.
- nominate: It seems that perhaps a player who has just sent himself off shouldn't be allowed to play a nominated wink.
- catch: Then right to that air-conditioned theater to catch a few winks, " Sam joked, getting a shrug in return.
- tip: How often he tips a wink at the male heterosexual reader!
- know: He kind of gave them to me with a knowing wink.
Preposition: at
- audience: He gave a subtle, low key performance and did not wink at the audience.
- camera: The waters wink back at the cameras, recording their own ephemeral impressions at the edge of a historic city.
Adjective modifier
- sly: But sly winks are all they are- they never overwhelm the film and are never played with anything other than a straight face.
- cheeky: The only way to order one a Screaming Orgasm is with a smile and a cheeky wink!
- little: Or are you more in the mood for a little wink of an eye, flick of the hair, flirty fun?
Modifying Another Word
- again: I patted her on the head and winked again.
- back: The faces on the soles just winked back at her.
- then: He then winked at his bench after Rooney was shown the red card.
- just: He wants more drums right after all you gotta do is just wink your eye!
Noun used with modifier
forty: At the back of the class Jennifer was given a right ticking off for having forty winks.
Preposition: of
Browse dictionary entries near wink
- ‹ Winifred
- ‹ wingtip
- ‹ wingspread
- ‹ wingspan
- ‹ wings
- ‹ wingover
- ‹ wingman
- ‹ winglet
- ‹ winged
- ‹ wingding
- wink at ›
- winker ›
- winking ›
- winkle ›
- winkle-picker ›
- Winkworth, Catherine ›
- winnable ›
- Winnebago ›
- winner ›
- Winner, Langdon ›

