wink 1 of 2

Definition of winknext
1
as in nap
a short sleep I wasn't able to catch a wink during the entire flight

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2

wink

2 of 2

verb

1
as in to blink
to rapidly open and close one's eyes she winked several times to get the dust and grit out of her eyes

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2
as in to twinkle
to shine with light at regular intervals a lighthouse was winking in the distance

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3
4
as in to ignore
to secretly sympathize with or pretend ignorance of something improper or unlawful the whole sporting world seems to wink as untold sums are bet on the outcome of the Super Bowl

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Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of wink
Noun
Jackie concludes her thought with a nod, a smile, and a wink. Literary Hub, 3 Apr. 2026 Sounds like there’s a big hole in the market (wink, wink, other denim brands). Eva Thomas, InStyle, 3 Apr. 2026
Verb
The same girls who’d posted winking pop-culture-reference couples Halloween costumes a few years ago were now posting their toddlers in their own pop-culture-reference costumes. Literary Hub, 9 Apr. 2026 Made in the earnest style of a disease-of-the-week television movie without ever tipping over into winking irony, the film is both funny and tender. Los Angeles Times, 8 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for wink
Recent Examples of Synonyms for wink
Noun
  • Many Americans are long overdue for a good nap.
    Tristan Bove, Fortune, 4 May 2026
  • Midday naps and sleeping in on weekends can help make up for temporary sleep deficits.
    Pien Huang, NPR, 2 May 2026
Noun
  • In preparation for the Alaskan wilderness, the Hoffmans and their crew shop for bear guns, bid their wives farewell, and are prayed over by a local pastor (who decides, at the last minute, to join them).
    Jennifer Wilson, New Yorker, 4 May 2026
  • With the game tied 1-1 heading into the final nine minutes, Vasilevskiy fought off Lane Hutson’s wrister from the top of the left circle with his blocker, sending the puck high in the air and hard off the end boards.
    Eduardo A. Encina, The Orlando Sentinel, 4 May 2026
Verb
  • Victor sat there, blinking in shock for what would later seem like two lifetimes.
    ‘Pemi Aguda, Literary Hub, 6 May 2026
  • In a blink-and-you’ll miss it moment as every key character is introduced, Pratt’s Malfoy was seen in one shot pulling his wand out (presumably to intimidate an off-screen Harry).
    Alex Ritman, Variety, 4 May 2026
Verb
  • That dress, which cost thirty-eight ninety-nine, still hung limply in the store, twinkling.
    Anna Wiener, New Yorker, 4 May 2026
  • The result is a soft, twinkling glow that looks like the real thing—without the fire hazard.
    Stephanie Osmanski, Better Homes & Gardens, 3 May 2026
Verb
  • There was, of course, one gleaming exception to the cultural stranglehold that Sinners versus One Battle After Another held last winter.
    Joe Reid, Vulture, 26 Apr. 2026
  • Fresh off his first-ever water fast, the whites of his eyes gleam like pearls.
    Jen Murphy, Robb Report, 26 Apr. 2026
Verb
  • The federal judge in that case ruled that a jury could find that State Farm had acted in bad faith if the plaintiffs' lawyers demonstrated that the company ignored certain kinds of hail damage.
    Michael Copley, NPR, 28 Apr. 2026
  • In crush, puncture, and saw tests, the battery produced no smoke or flames – a safety profile that's hard to ignore.
    Omar Kardoudi April 28, New Atlas, 28 Apr. 2026
Noun
  • McKenzie Milton was the heartbeat of the Knights’ undefeated 2017 season and, after injuries derailed his playing career, transitioned to the sideline.
    Edgar Thompson, The Orlando Sentinel, 2 May 2026
  • The high-tech device can bring a patient with no heartbeat back to life.
    Ricky Sayer, CBS News, 1 May 2026
Verb
  • Several entrances to its cannabis store parking lot were blocked by unmarked vehicles with flashing blue lights.
    Eric Tucker, Los Angeles Times, 7 May 2026
  • When the officers turned on their boat’s blue flashing lights to signal the commercial vessel to stop, someone threw a red bucket overboard, according to the report.
    David Goodhue, Miami Herald, 7 May 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Wink.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/wink. Accessed 8 May. 2026.

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