wince — to show pain or distress suddenly and briefly in the face
Part of speech: VERB
Definition: to show pain or distress suddenly and briefly in the face
Pronunciation (IPA): /wɪns/
Example Sentences
- My dad winces every time he sees the credit card bill.
- I wince whenever I remember my embarrassing speech at the wedding.
- The dentist noticed her wince and applied more anesthetic.
wince
VERB[/wɪns/]
to show pain or distress suddenly and briefly in the face

The patient winces as the nurse gives the injection

The prince learned to wince since that day
Got the picture? Now let's practice.
🎤Pronunciation
🌳Etymology
Origin
From Old North French 'wincier,' possibly derived from a Germanic source related to 'wench' (to pull or turn). The word entered Middle English and has cognates in other Germanic languages.
Breakdown
wince (base word, no morpheme breakdown) - a simple, non-compound English verb with unclear internal structure, possibly from Proto-Germanic 'wink-' meaning to turn or bend
🎵Rhyme
🔗Collocations
📝Examples
“My dad winces every time he sees the credit card bill.”
“I wince whenever I remember my embarrassing speech at the wedding.”
“The dentist noticed her wince and applied more anesthetic.”
“Students wince when the teacher mentions the final exam.”
📚Related Words
Synonyms
Antonyms
Related
Want to master 19,000+ words?
Sign up free for flashcards & quizzes.