Wink — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

verb noun /ˈwiŋk/

Meaning & Definition of Wink

Wink (verb)

  1. to shut one eye briefly as a signal or in teasing
  2. to close and open the eyelids quickly
  3. to avoid seeing or noting something —usually used with at

Wink (noun)

  1. a brief period of sleep, nap
  2. a hint or sign given by winking
  3. an act of winking

Wink (noun) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. a short sleep

    "I wasn't able to catch a wink during the entire flight"

    similar: catnap, doze, drowse, forty winks, kip (chiefly British), nap, siesta, snooze
    related: repose, rest, slumber, bed

  2. a very small space of time

    "I turned to look away, and in a wink he was gone"

    similar: beat, eyeblink, flash, heartbeat, instant, jiff, jiffy, minute, moment, nanosecond, New York minute, second, shake, split second, trice, twinkle, twinkling
    related: microsecond, snatch, spurt
    near: eon, age, eternity, forever, infinity, lifetime

Wink (verb) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. to rapidly open and close one's eyes

    "she winked several times to get the dust and grit out of her eyes"

    similar: blink
    related: bat, flutter, squint

  2. to shine with light at regular intervals

    "a lighthouse was winking in the distance"

    similar: blink, flash, twinkle
    related: coruscate, flare, flicker, glance, glimmer, glint, glisten, glister, glitter, scintillate, shimmer, spangle, spark, sparkle

  3. to shoot forth bursts of light

    "fireflies winking in the darkness beyond our campfire"

    similar: coruscate, flame, flash, glance, gleam, glimmer, glint, glisten, glister, glitter, luster, scintillate, shimmer, spangle, sparkle, twinkle, winkle
    related: beam, radiate, shine, bedazzle, blind, daze, dazzle, blaze, burn, flare, glare, glow

  4. 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"

    similar: connive
    related: brush (aside or off), condone, disregard, excuse, forgive, gloss (over), gloze (over), ignore, overlook, pardon, pass over, shrug off, tolerate
    near: disapprove (of), frown (on or upon), deny, disallow, refuse

Related Entry: Wink (at) (verb)

Wink (at) is a different word from Wink. The synonyms below are for wink (at), not for wink.

  1. to dismiss as of little importance

    "for too long the school just winked at the young athletes' hooliganism, dismissing it as a case of boys being boys"

    similar: blink (at), brush (aside or off), condone, discount, disregard, excuse, forgive, gloss (over), gloze (over), ignore, overlook, overpass, paper over, pardon, pass over, remit, shrug off, whitewash, close one's eyes to, forgive and forget
    related: explain, justify, rationalize, absolve, acquit, clear, exculpate, exonerate, vindicate, waive, wave (aside or off)
    near: heed, mark, mind, note, object (to)

Related Entry: Wink (out) (verb)

Wink (out) is a different word from Wink. The synonyms below are for wink (out), not for wink.

  1. to come to an end

    "she mused that it was as if her affection for him had just winked out one day"

    similar: break off, break up, cease, close, conclude, dead-end, determine, die, discontinue, elapse, end, expire, finish, go, halt, lapse, leave off, let up, pass, quit, stop, terminate, wind up, bite the dust
    related: desist (from), lay off (of), refrain (from), give over (British), knock off, pack (up or in), break down, conk (out), cut out, stall, pause, stay, suspend, abate, peter (out), wind down
    opposite: continue, hang on, persist
    near: draw out, extend, prolong, protract

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Wink

The most common words with a similar meaning to Wink:

Chiefly British: kip
catnap, doze, drowse, forty winks, nap, siesta, snooze, beat, eyeblink, flash, heartbeat, instant, jiff, jiffy, minute, moment, nanosecond, New York minute, second, shake, split second, trice, twinkle, twinkling, blink, coruscate, flame, glance, gleam, glimmer, glint, glisten, glister, glitter, luster, scintillate, shimmer, spangle, sparkle, winkle

Related Words for Wink

repose, rest, slumber, bed, microsecond, snatch, spurt, bat, flutter, squint, flare, flicker, spark, beam, radiate, shine, bedazzle, blind, daze, dazzle, blaze, burn, glare, glow, brush (aside or off), condone, disregard, excuse, forgive, gloss (over)

Near Antonyms of Wink

eon, age, eternity, forever, infinity, lifetime, disapprove (of), frown (on or upon), deny, disallow, refuse

Word Forms of Wink

Inflections: winked, winking, winks

Origin & Etymology of Wink

Middle English, from Old English wincian; akin to Old High German winchan to stagger, wink and perhaps to Latin vacillare to sway, Sanskrit vañcati he goes crookedly

First known use: before 12th centuryi

Words & Phrases Containing Wink

wink at, (as) quick as a wink, give (someone) a wink, in a wink, not get a wink of sleep, not sleep a wink, sleep a wink, tip (someone) the wink

Frequently Asked Questions about Wink

What does "Wink" mean?

"Wink" means to shut one eye briefly as a signal or in teasing. As an a verb and a noun, it is defined as: to shut one eye briefly as a signal or in teasing. It has 6 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Wink"?

Other words for "Wink" include catnap, doze, drowse, forty winks, kip, nap, siesta and snooze. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Wink" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Wink"?

There are 79 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Wink". Common alternatives include catnap, doze, drowse, forty winks, kip, nap, siesta, snooze, beat and eyeblink.

How do you use "Wink" in a sentence?

Examples of "Wink" in a sentence: "I wasn't able to catch a wink during the entire flight"; "I turned to look away, and in a wink he was gone"; "she winked several times to get the dust and grit out of her eyes".

Is "Wink" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Wink" can be used as a verb and a noun, depending on the context.

How do you pronounce "Wink"?

"Wink" is pronounced /ˈwiŋk/.

What is the origin of the word "Wink"?

"Wink" comes from Middle English, from Old English wincian; akin to Old High German winchan to stagger, wink and perhaps to Latin vacillare to sway, Sanskrit vañcati he goes crookedly. First known use: before 12th centuryi.

What is another word for "Wink" meaning "a short sleep"?

When "Wink" (noun) means a short sleep, synonyms include catnap, doze, drowse, forty winks, kip and nap.