Transcription
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- US Pronunciation
- US IPA
- UK Pronunciation
- UK IPA
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- [wingk at]
- /wɪŋk æt/
- /wɪŋk ət/
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- US Pronunciation
- US IPA
-
- [wingk at]
- /wɪŋk æt/
Definitions of wink at words
- verb without object wink at to close and open one or both eyes quickly. 1
- verb without object wink at to close and open one eye quickly as a hint or signal or with some sly meaning (often followed by at): She winked at him across the room. 1
- verb without object wink at (of the eyes) to close and open thus; blink. 1
- verb without object wink at to shine with little flashes of light; twinkle: The city lights winked in the distance. 1
- verb with object wink at to close and open (one or both eyes) quickly; execute or give (a wink). 1
- verb with object wink at to drive or force by winking (usually followed by back or away): She attempted to wink back the tears. 1
Information block about the term
Origin of wink at
First appearance:
before 900 One of the 4% oldest English words
before 900; (v.) Middle English winken, Old English wincian; cognate with German winken to wave, signal; (noun) Middle English: nap, derivative of the v.
Historical Comparancy
Parts of speech for Wink at
noun
adjective
verb
adverb
pronoun
preposition
conjunction
determiner
exclamation
wink at popularity
A common word. It’s meaning is known to most children of preschool age. About 96% of English native speakers know the meaning and use the word.
Most Europeans know this English word. The frequency of it’s usage is somewhere between "mom" and "screwdriver".
wink at usage trend in Literature
This diagram is provided by Google Ngram ViewerSynonyms for wink at
verb wink at
- absolve — If a report or investigation absolves someone from blame or responsibility, it formally states that he or she is not guilty or is not to blame.
- acquit — If someone is acquitted of a crime in a court of law, they are formally declared not to have committed the crime.
- allow for — If you allow for certain problems or expenses, you include some extra time or money in your planning so that you can deal with them if they occur.
- amnestied — a general pardon for offenses, especially political offenses, against a government, often granted before any trial or conviction.
- burke — Edmund. 1729–97, British Whig statesman, conservative political theorist, and orator, born in Ireland: defended parliamentary government and campaigned for a more liberal treatment of the American colonies; denounced the French Revolution
Antonyms for wink at
verb wink at
- doom — fate or destiny, especially adverse fate; unavoidable ill fortune: In exile and poverty, he met his doom.
See also
Matching words
- Words starting with w
- Words starting with wi
- Words starting with win
- Words starting with wink
- Words starting with winka
- Words starting with winkat