MEANING
To smile in a coy or self-conscious way that seems insincere.
Use it for
Words that belong together
- simper at a compliment
- simpering smile
On the page
He simpered at the praise, then demanded a larger fee.
Nearby words
Word forms
- Base
- simper
- Past tense
- simpered
- Past participle
- simpered
- Present participle
- simpering
Full tense & aspect guide
- Present
- simper
- Present continuous
- am/is/are simpering
- Present perfect
- have/has simpered
- Present perfect continuous
- have/has been simpering
- Past
- simpered
- Past continuous
- was/were simpering
- Past perfect
- had simpered
- Past perfect continuous
- had been simpering
- Future
- will simper
- Future continuous
- will be simpering
- Future perfect
- will have simpered
- Future perfect continuous
- will have been simpering
Choose the auxiliary that agrees with your subject. These are constructions of one word, not separate entries.
Usage notes
Primary category: literary / elevated general. Forms: simper; simpers; simpered; simpered; simpering Legacy lexical fields mirror sense 1 only. Use numbered sense fields for all meanings. Established modern English lexical item. No separate regional spelling or grammatical inflection entry. Commonness: uncommon. Third-person singular: simpers.
Practice this word in a sentenceYour margin notes
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