smiley

1 of 2

adjective

smil·​ey ˈsmī-lē How to pronounce smiley (audio)
: having a smile : smiling often
smiley kids

smiley

2 of 2

noun

Examples of smiley in a Sentence

Adjective She's a very smiley kid.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Adjective
The smiley snap features William, 43, and Kate, 44, casually dressed, lying in a field alongside their three children, Prince George, 12, Princess Charlotte, 10, and Prince Louis, 8. Meredith Kile, PEOPLE, 29 Apr. 2026 Ilya also shared the artwork for Grande’s album on Instagram, with the singer replying with a smiley emoticon. Armando Tinoco, Deadline, 28 Apr. 2026
Noun
The casual, smiley snap featured William, 43, and Kate, 44, lying in a grassy field alongside their three children, Prince George, 12, Princess Charlotte, 10, and Prince Louis, 8. Helen Murphy, PEOPLE, 29 Apr. 2026 Go bright and bold with florals and smileys in a neon green and white palette. Kara Jillian Brown, InStyle, 1 Mar. 2026 See All Example Sentences for smiley

Word History

Etymology

Noun

short for smiley face

First Known Use

Adjective

1848, in the meaning defined above

Noun

1987, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of smiley was in 1848

Cite this Entry

“Smiley.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/smiley. Accessed 4 May. 2026.

Kids Definition

smiley

1 of 2 adjective
smil·​ey ˈsmī-lē How to pronounce smiley (audio)
: exhibiting a smile : frequently smiling

smiley

2 of 2 noun
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