appreciative smile

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "appreciative smile" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a smile that conveys gratitude or recognition of something positive. Example: "After receiving the compliment, she responded with an appreciative smile that lit up her face."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

6 human-written examples

A coonass being a Cajun, I threw him an appreciative smile.

The New Yorker

"It's funny, racing is such a beautiful sport," Zito said with an appreciative smile.

The New York Times - Sports

"He's a naughty boy," Marya likes to say of Orel with an appreciative smile when he gets a little wild.

The New York Times

Mr. Cage gives the iguanas a small, appreciative smile, eyeballing the animals who continue to eyeball the camera as the image begins to jump and shake.

The New York Times

When the outfit was described to Andre Agassi, who crushed Max Mirnyi in 54 minutes, 6-2, 6-2, to advance to the men's fourth round, he leaned back with an appreciative smile.

The New York Times - Sports

No need to thank me friend, your appreciative smile says it all.

Vice

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

54 human-written examples

A few minutes later, I returned with two cups of coffee – and their appreciative smiles.

The New York Times

This consistently funny, intriguing and intellectually engaging picture goes for chuckles and appreciative smiles rather than belly laughs, and up until the final moments it appeals to the mind rather than the heart.

The Guardian - Film

It happens all the time: There you are at a cocktail party holding forth, eliciting appreciative smiles and nods.

Huffington Post

But the embarrassment is more than made up for by the appreciative smiles of encouragement you'll invariably get from locals for even making the attempt to speak their language.

Huffington Post

General impatience gave way to appreciative smiles.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "appreciative smile" to convey a genuine sense of gratitude or recognition of someone's efforts or qualities. This emphasizes that the smile isn't just polite, but truly thankful.

Common error

Avoid using "appreciative smile" when a simple "smile" suffices. Overusing it can dilute its impact and make your writing sound insincere or repetitive. Only use it when emphasizing the feeling of appreciation behind the smile.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "appreciative smile" functions primarily as a noun phrase where the adjective "appreciative" modifies the noun "smile". It specifies the type or quality of the smile, indicating it's a smile that expresses gratitude or recognition. Ludwig AI confirms that the phrase is grammatically correct and commonly used.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Science

0%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "appreciative smile" is a grammatically sound and understandable phrase used to express gratitude or recognition through a smile. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and usability. While not extremely frequent, the phrase is suitable for various contexts, particularly in news and media. To avoid overuse, consider alternatives like "grateful smile" or "thankful smile", depending on the specific nuance you intend to convey. The phrase functions as a noun phrase that signals a sincere expression of acknowledgement.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

grateful smile

Replaces "appreciative" with "grateful", emphasizing thankfulness.

thankful smile

Substitutes "appreciative" with "thankful", highlighting gratitude.

pleased smile

Replaces "appreciative" with "pleased", focusing on satisfaction.

warm smile

Describes the smile's nature as friendly and welcoming, instead of focusing on the appreciation aspect.

knowing smile

Emphasizes shared understanding rather than direct appreciation.

understanding smile

Similar to knowing smile, but emphasizing comprehension.

accepting smile

Highlights acceptance or agreement through a smile.

acknowledging smile

Focuses on the act of recognizing something with a smile.

contented smile

Expresses satisfaction or happiness, but removes the element of expressed appreciation.

satisfied smile

Similar to contented smile, but emphasizing fulfillment.

FAQs

How can I use "appreciative smile" in a sentence?

You can use "appreciative smile" to describe someone's reaction when they feel grateful or acknowledged, such as: "She gave an "appreciative smile" after receiving the gift" or "He responded with an "appreciative smile" to the kind words".

What can I say instead of "appreciative smile"?

You can use alternatives like "grateful smile", "thankful smile", or "pleased smile" depending on the specific context and nuance you want to convey.

Is it redundant to use "appreciative smile"?

While "smile" already implies a positive sentiment, "appreciative smile" emphasizes the specific feeling of gratitude or acknowledgment. The choice depends on whether that emphasis is necessary for your writing.

What's the difference between "appreciative smile" and a regular smile?

An "appreciative smile" specifically conveys gratitude or recognition, while a regular smile can express a range of emotions like happiness, amusement, or politeness. The key difference lies in the underlying feeling being communicated.