first time I smiled

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "first time I smiled" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a specific moment or experience when someone smiled for the first time, often in a nostalgic or reflective context. Example: "I still remember the first time I smiled after the difficult days; it felt like a weight had been lifted off my shoulders."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

4 human-written examples

Radcliffe tweeted: "First time I smiled today was watching @L_Armitstead claim silver in the women's road race – well done!".

The Guardian - Sport

But the day she came to see me was the first time I smiled and felt some kind of happiness and hope inside me," he says.

BBC

And for the first time, I smiled.

Huffington Post

2. My cutest moment thus far has been the first time I smiled.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

54 human-written examples

It was the first time I had smiled in a week.

Vice

"For the first time, I could smile on the air," she said.

The New York Times - Style

It was the first time I could remember smiling since I had left New York.

The Guardian - Travel

When he heard that he would finally be getting DLA, and could find a carer, that was the first time I saw him smile".

The Guardian - Money

For the first time I saw Turks smiling.

Huffington Post

The first time I heard this advice I smiled, shook my head enthusiastically and said, "okay".

Huffington Post

"The first time I held her, she smiled at me," she said.

Los Angeles Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use the phrase "first time I smiled" when you want to evoke a sense of nostalgia or to emphasize a significant moment of happiness or relief after a period of sadness or difficulty. It adds a personal and emotional touch to your writing.

Common error

Avoid using "first time I smiled" interchangeably with general expressions of happiness. This phrase specifically refers to a first experience, not just any instance of joy. Ensure that the context clearly indicates it's a unique and initial moment of smiling.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "first time I smiled" functions as a narrative expression, primarily used to recount a personal experience or memory. Ludwig AI confirms its correct usage. It often serves as an introductory element, setting the stage for a story or reflection.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "first time I smiled" is a grammatically sound and personally evocative expression used to recount a specific moment of happiness or relief. Ludwig AI confirms its correct usage. While relatively rare in occurrence, as reflected in the analysis of examples, it frequently appears in News & Media contexts to add a personal touch to narratives. When using this phrase, ensure the context highlights its unique and initial nature, differentiating it from general expressions of joy. Consider similar phrases like "the first instance I felt joy" to provide variety in your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

The day I first smiled

Highlights that the first smile happened on that specific day.

That very first smile

Emphasizes the importance of "first smile".

The first instance I felt joy

Replaces "smiled" with a broader term, "joy", emphasizing the emotional state.

The first moment my face lit up

Uses the metaphor "face lit up" to describe the physical expression of happiness.

The first occasion I beamed

Uses "beamed" to illustrate smiling radiantly or happily.

When I cracked my first smile

Emphasizes the action of smiling with the verb "cracked", suggesting a sudden or unexpected smile.

The first instance of my smiling face

Shifts focus slightly to the physical expression of a smiling face.

The inaugural smile I gave

Replaces "first time" with "inaugural", giving a formal and unique tone.

My first smile ever

Highlights the rarity of the first smile, emphasizing it as a significant milestone.

The debut of my smile

Presents the smile as a debut, an inaugural or initial appearance.

FAQs

How can I use "first time I smiled" in a sentence?

You can use "first time I smiled" to describe a memorable initial experience of happiness, such as, "I remember the "first time I smiled" after the surgery; it meant I was healing."

What does "first time I smiled" mean?

The phrase "first time I smiled" refers to the initial occasion when someone experienced and expressed happiness through a smile, often highlighting its significance.

What's a similar expression to "first time I smiled"?

A similar expression could be "the first instance I felt joy", which broadens the expression to include the general feeling of joy rather than just the physical act of smiling.

Is it correct to say "the first time I saw him smile" instead of "first time I smiled"?

Yes, "the first time I saw him smile" is correct, but it shifts the focus. Instead of describing your own experience of smiling, you're describing witnessing someone else's "first time I saw him smile".