[Elamur Dictionary](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/) · [this page in HTML](https://dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/english/wince/)

[dictionaries](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/) / [English](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/english/) / [W](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/english/w/) / wince

# wince

verb (wince, winces, winced, wincing); noun (a wince)

«wince» in the English dictionary: everyday — its meanings, how the lessons use it, and examples, each with its tree on Mova.

## Everyday

1. To wince is to make a quick face or small movement when you feel pain or see or hear something unpleasant. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/W/wince/#m1)
2. A wince is that quick look of pain. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/W/wince/#m2)

### In the lessons

In stories it shows pain or embarrassment without words: «he winced as the nurse cleaned the cut» tells the reader it stung. Writing lessons use «wince» as a strong verb to show feelings. Phrases: «wince in pain», «make someone wince», «with a wince».

### Examples

- He winced when the nurse gave him the injection. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/W/wince/#x1)
- I winced as I pulled off the plaster. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/W/wince/#x2)
- She winced at the loud screech of the chalk. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/W/wince/#x3)
- The cold water made me wince. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/W/wince/#x4)
- Dad winced when he saw the price. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/W/wince/#x5)
- She smiled through a wince when she stood up on her sore ankle. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/W/wince/#x6)

### Note

Regular verb: winced, wincing (drop the e). Similar: «flinch» (jerk away), «grimace» (an ugly face). A wince is quick and small.

## On Mova

- [Trees and pragmatics of «wince» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/W/wince/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- [«wince» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/wince.html) on Mova free.