smirk

UK: /ˈsmɜː^rk/ US: /smɝk/ ,(smûrk)

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025

smirk /smɜrk/   v., n. 
v. [no object]

1. to smile in an offensively self-satisfied way:
   They smirked behind the teacher's back.

n. [countable]
2. the facial expression of a person who smirks.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

smirk  (smûrk), v.i. 

1. to smile in an affected, smug, or offensively familiar way.

n. 

2. the facial expression of a person who smirks.

• Middle English smirken (verb, verbal), Old English sme(a)rcian bef. 900

smirk′er, n. 
smirk′ing•ly, adv. 

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

smirk / smɜːk/ noun

1. a smile expressing scorn, smugness, etc, rather than pleasure

verb

1. (intransitive) to give such a smile
2. (transitive) to express with such a smile

Etymology: Old English smearcian; related to smer derision, Old High German bismer contempt, bismerōn to scorn

ˈsmirker noun

ˈsmirking adjective

ˈsmirkingly adverb