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Definition of wince verb from the Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary

wince

verb
 
/wɪns/
 
/wɪns/
[intransitive]
Verb Forms
present simple I / you / we / they wince
 
/wɪns/
 
/wɪns/
he / she / it winces
 
/ˈwɪnsɪz/
 
/ˈwɪnsɪz/
past simple winced
 
/wɪnst/
 
/wɪnst/
past participle winced
 
/wɪnst/
 
/wɪnst/
-ing form wincing
 
/ˈwɪnsɪŋ/
 
/ˈwɪnsɪŋ/
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  1. wince (at something) to suddenly make an expression with your face that shows that you are embarrassed or feeling pain
    • He winced as a sharp pain shot through his left leg.
    • I still wince when I think about that stupid thing I said.
    • He winced inwardly at her harsh tone.
    • She switched on the light, wincing at the sudden brightness.
    Topics Appearancec2
    Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadverb
    • a little
    • slightly
    • etc.
    verb + wince
    • try not to
    • cause somebody to
    • make somebody
    preposition
    • at
    • from
    • in
    See full entry
    Word OriginMiddle English (originally in the sense ‘kick restlessly from pain or impatience’): from an Anglo-Norman French variant of Old French guenchir ‘turn aside’.
See wince in the Oxford Advanced American Dictionary

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