wink 1 of 2

noun

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
as in minute
a very small space of time I turned to look away, and in a wink he was gone

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

wink

2 of 2

verb

ˈwiŋk How to pronounce wink (audio)
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
as in to gleam
to shoot forth bursts of light fireflies winking in the darkness beyond our campfire

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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
The artists that Fallon channeled for this album, all of the ’80s rockers and troubadours alike, there had to be a wink. — Brendan Menapace, SPIN, 9 Sep. 2026 The company does, though, sell a scarf called Tulipomanie, covered in frilly blooms of an exquisiteness that seems to rebut the charge of excess hype with a wink. — Lauren Collins, New Yorker, 7 Sep. 2026
Verb
The ad ends with Cameli looking into the camera for a few seconds before winking. — Gabe Hauari, USA Today, 24 Aug. 2026 Her lyrics, like those of many of her biggest musical influences, are dense texts, full of winking allusions and subtle references to records, bands, and albums that have shaped her own songwriting. — Jonathan Bernstein, Rolling Stone, 14 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for wink
Recent Examples of Synonyms for wink
  1. nap
  2. minute
  3. blink
  4. twinkle
  5. gleam
  6. ignore
  7. heartbeat
  8. flash
Noun
  • Other cats found the aquarium's dim blue environment calming and closed their eyes for a little nap.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 6 Oct. 2026
  • Ten minutes after Trump opens his mouth, some of us need a nap.
    — Bernard Goldberg, Washington Post, 5 Oct. 2026
Definition of nap
Noun
  • Westport proper is a 10-or-so-minute drive away for shopping and strolling.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 8 Oct. 2026
  • Both in jeans and black blazers, Ellison and Kreiz fielded questions from the national press for nearly 30 minutes on the lot’s Stage 3.
    — Matt Donnelly, Variety, 7 Oct. 2026
Definition of minute
Verb
  • Only the dark bodies of container ships, crowned with blinking lights, massed along the sea’s horizon, as solid as a wall.
    — Rachel Heng, New Yorker, 4 Oct. 2026
  • Tousle-haired, rosy-cheeked and 10 inches tall, Topo Gigio was remarkably lifelike — equipped with a moving mouth and blinking eyes.
    — Kaja Andric, New York Times, 3 Oct. 2026
Definition of blink
Verb
  • The scene is a sensory one, with layered cowhide rugs, leather armchairs, a wood-burning fire, and twinkling chandeliers that were original to the Pulitzers’ home.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 6 Oct. 2026
  • But the scenes of Roy using household objects to relay the action of the game (accompanied by twinkling music) push Keeley beyond the limits of eccentricity.
    — Keith Phipps, Vulture, 30 Sep. 2026
Definition of twinkle
Verb
  • That's particularly true at steakhouse Intrepid and open-air cantina 16o9—both of which are set above the harbor for incredible sunsets and clear views of the gleaming white super yachts.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 6 Oct. 2026
  • All this may be hard to imagine in the gleaming China of today.
    — Carl Minzner, Foreign Affairs, 5 Oct. 2026
Definition of gleam
Verb
  • Corbett said such arguments ignore Illinois’ long history of underfunding public schools, with the state providing only about a quarter of school districts’ revenue, according to the State Board of Education’s most recent Illinois Report Card.
    — Dan Petrella, Chicago Tribune, 8 Oct. 2026
  • The shame lies with the governments who ignored the AIDS crisis and the stigma that was around people and the innate prejudice that was in society.
    — Lily Ford, HollywoodReporter, 8 Oct. 2026
Definition of ignore
Noun
  • Gabe wears a bracelet containing some of her final heartbeats and her fingerprint.
    — Ashley Sharp, CBS News, 7 Oct. 2026
  • Hope still has a heartbeat, but that grows fainter by the loss.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 3 Oct. 2026
Definition of heartbeat
Verb
  • The fifth-round pick from Nebraska has flashed as both a runner and pass-catcher behind the Chiefs’ featured back.
    — Pete Sweeney, Kansas City Star, 2 Oct. 2026
  • As Americans prepared to celebrate the nation’s 250th birthday on the morning of July 4, sobering images flashed across their phones and TV screens.
    — James Bisbee, The Conversation, 2 Oct. 2026
Definition of flash

Phrases Containing wink

Browse Nearby Words

wining
wink
wink (at)
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Cite this Entry

“Wink.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/wink. Accessed 9 Oct. 2026.

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