Laugh vs. Smile: Know the Difference
By Shumaila Saeed || Updated on December 25, 2023
Laughing is a vocal expression of amusement or joy, often involving a series of rhythmic, audible vocal outbursts, while smiling is a quiet, facial expression of happiness, amusement, or kindness, primarily shown by upturning the corners of the mouth.
Key Differences
Laughing typically involves a series of vocal sounds and is often an involuntary reaction to humor or joy. It can vary in intensity from a gentle chuckle to a loud guffaw. Smiling, on the other hand, is a silent expression, primarily shown by the movement of facial muscles, particularly those around the mouth. Smiles can range from a slight upturn of the lips to a broad, beaming smile.
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Dec 01, 2023
Laughter is considered a social signal, often occurring in group settings as a way to bond or share in a humorous experience. It's not just a human trait; some animals are also believed to laugh. Smiling, while also social, can be both a conscious and subconscious response, reflecting a variety of emotions including happiness, politeness, or even nervousness.
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Dec 01, 2023
The physical act of laughing engages multiple muscle groups and can have health benefits, like stress reduction. It triggers the release of endorphins, promoting an overall sense of well-being. Smiling, too, has health benefits, including reducing heart rate and relaxing the body, and it's often used to convey warmth and approachability.
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Dec 01, 2023
In communication, laughter can serve as a response to humor or a way to ease tension. It's often contagious and can help lighten a serious atmosphere. Smiling serves as a universal sign of goodwill, transcending language and cultural barriers. It can be a form of non-verbal communication indicating friendliness, approval, or empathy.
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Dec 01, 2023
While laughter is typically a spontaneous reaction, it can also be faked or forced in social situations. Similarly, smiles can be both genuine and insincere, used as a social mask or to conform to social etiquette. Both laughing and smiling play crucial roles in human interactions, influencing social bonding, and emotional expression.
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Dec 01, 2023
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Comparison Chart
Expression
Involves vocalization and sound.
Involves facial muscles, no sound.
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Dec 01, 2023
Social Context
Often shared in groups, contagious.
Can be individual or social.
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Dec 01, 2023
Emotional Association
Primarily joy, amusement.
Happiness, kindness, nervousness.
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Dec 01, 2023
Control
Less controllable, spontaneous.
More controllable, can be deliberate.
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Dec 01, 2023
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Laugh and Smile Definitions
Laugh
Laughing is an audible indication of joy or pleasure.
They laughed together in joy at the reunion.
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Dec 01, 2023
Smile
A smile is a facial expression indicating happiness or pleasure.
Her smile brightened the room.
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Dec 01, 2023
Laugh
Laughing often occurs in social settings, enhancing bonding.
Their laughter filled the room, creating a warm atmosphere.
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Dec 01, 2023
Smile
Smiling is often a sign of friendliness and approachability.
He greeted them with a warm smile.
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Dec 01, 2023
Laugh
Laughing can be a spontaneous physical reaction to stimuli.
The tickling made the child laugh uncontrollably.
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Dec 01, 2023
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Smile
Smiling can be used to comfort or reassure others.
She smiled reassuringly at her friend in distress.
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Dec 01, 2023
Laugh
Laughing is a vocal expression of amusement or happiness.
She laughed heartily at the joke.
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Dec 01, 2023
Smile
A smile can be a response to something pleasurable or enjoyable.
She smiled at the memory of the beach.
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Dec 01, 2023
Laugh
Laughing is a common response to humor or funny situations.
He laughed loudly at the comic's witty remark.
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Dec 01, 2023
Smile
Smiling serves as a form of non-verbal communication, conveying emotions.
His smile conveyed his approval.
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Dec 01, 2023
Laugh
To express certain emotions, especially mirth or delight, by a series of spontaneous, usually unarticulated sounds often accompanied by corresponding facial and bodily movements.
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Oct 19, 2023
Smile
A facial expression characterized by an upward curving of the corners of the mouth and indicating pleasure, amusement, or derision.
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Oct 19, 2023
Laugh
To show or feel amusement or good humor
An experience we would laugh about later on.
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Oct 19, 2023
Laugh
To feel or express derision or contempt; mock
I had to laugh when I saw who my opponent was.
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Oct 19, 2023
Laugh
To feel a triumphant or exultant sense of well-being
You won't be laughing when the truth comes out.
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Oct 19, 2023
Smile
To express cheerful acceptance or equanimity
We smiled at the bad weather and kept going.
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Oct 19, 2023
Laugh
To produce sounds resembling laughter
Parrots laughing and chattering in the trees.
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Oct 19, 2023
Laugh
To affect or influence by laughter
Laughed the speaker off the stage.
Laughed the proposal down.
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Oct 19, 2023
Smile
A facial expression comprised by flexing the muscles of both ends of one's mouth, often showing the front teeth, without vocalisation, and in humans is a common involuntary or voluntary expression of happiness, pleasure, amusement, goodwill, or anxiety.
She's got a perfect smile.
He has a sinister smile.
She had a smile on her face.
He always puts a smile on my face.
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Oct 19, 2023
Smile
(ambitransitive) To have (a smile) on one's face.
When you smile, the whole world smiles with you.
I don't know what he's smiling about.
She smiles a beautiful smile.
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Oct 19, 2023
Laugh
(Informal) Something amusing, absurd, or contemptible; a joke
The solution they recommended was a laugh.
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Oct 19, 2023
Laugh
An expression of mirth particular to the human species; the sound heard in laughing; laughter.
His deep laughs boomed through the room.
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Oct 19, 2023
Smile
(intransitive) To look cheerful and joyous; to have an appearance suited to excite joy.
The sun smiled down from a clear summer sky.
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Oct 19, 2023
Laugh
Something that provokes mirth or scorn.
Your new hat's an absolute laugh, dude.
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Oct 19, 2023
Smile
(intransitive) To be propitious or favourable; to countenance.
The gods smiled on his labours.
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Oct 19, 2023
Smile
To express amusement, pleasure, moderate joy, or love and kindness, by the features of the face; to laugh silently.
He doth nothing but frown. . . . He hears merry tales and smiles not.
She smiled to see the doughty hero slain.
When last I saw thy young blue eyes, they smiled.
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Oct 19, 2023
Laugh
(intransitive) To show mirth, satisfaction, or derision, by peculiar movement of the muscles of the face, particularly of the mouth, causing a lighting up of the face and eyes, and usually accompanied by the emission of explosive or chuckling sounds from the chest and throat; to indulge in laughter.
There were many laughing children running on the school grounds.
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Oct 19, 2023
Smile
To express slight contempt by a look implying sarcasm or pity; to sneer.
'T was what I said to Craggs and Child,Who praised my modesty, and smiled.
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Oct 19, 2023
Laugh
To be or appear cheerful, pleasant, mirthful, lively, or brilliant; to sparkle; to sport.
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Oct 19, 2023
Smile
To look gay and joyous; to have an appearance suited to excite joy; as, smiling spring; smiling plenty.
The desert smiled,And paradise was opened in the wild.
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Oct 19, 2023
Laugh
To make an object of laughter or ridicule; to make fun of; to deride; to mock.
Don't laugh at my new hat, man!
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Oct 19, 2023
Smile
To be propitious or favorable; to favor; to countenance; - often with on; as, to smile on one's labors.
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Oct 19, 2023
Laugh
(transitive) To affect or influence by means of laughter or ridicule.
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Oct 19, 2023
Smile
To express by a smile; as, to smile consent; to smile a welcome to visitors.
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Oct 19, 2023
Smile
To affect in a certain way with a smile.
And sharply smile prevailing folly dead.
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Oct 19, 2023
Laugh
To show mirth, satisfaction, or derision, by peculiar movement of the muscles of the face, particularly of the mouth, causing a lighting up of the face and eyes, and usually accompanied by the emission of explosive or chuckling sounds from the chest and throat; to indulge in laughter.
Queen Hecuba laughed that her eyes ran o'er.
He laugheth that winneth.
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Oct 19, 2023
Smile
The act of smiling; a peculiar change or brightening of the face, which expresses pleasure, moderate joy, mirth, approbation, or kindness; - opposed to frown.
Sweet intercourseOf looks and smiles: for smiles from reason flow.
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Oct 19, 2023
Laugh
Fig.: To be or appear gay, cheerful, pleasant, mirthful, lively, or brilliant; to sparkle; to sport.
Then laughs the childish year, with flowerets crowned.
In Folly's cup still laughs the bubble Joy.
No wit to flatter left of all his store,No fool to laugh at, which he valued more.
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Oct 19, 2023
Smile
A somewhat similar expression of countenance, indicative of satisfaction combined with malevolent feelings, as contempt, scorn, etc; as, a scornful smile.
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Oct 19, 2023
Laugh
To affect or influence by means of laughter or ridicule.
Will you laugh me asleep, for I am very heavy?
I shall laugh myself to death.
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Oct 19, 2023
Laugh
To express by, or utter with, laughter; - with out.
From his deep chest laughs out a loud applause.
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Oct 19, 2023
Smile
Gay or joyous appearance; as, the smiles of spring.
The brightness of their [the flowers'] smile was gone.
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Oct 19, 2023
Smile
A facial expression characterized by turning up the corners of the mouth; usually shows pleasure or amusement
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Oct 19, 2023
Laugh
A facial expression characteristic of a person laughing;
His face wrinkled in a silent laugh of derision
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Oct 19, 2023
Smile
Change one's facial expression by spreading the lips, often to signal pleasure
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Oct 19, 2023
Laugh
A humorous anecdote or remark intended to provoke laughter;
He told a very funny joke
He knows a million gags
Thanks for the laugh
He laughed unpleasantly at hisown jest
Even a schoolboy's jape is supposed to have some ascertainable point
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Oct 19, 2023
Repeatedly Asked Queries
What triggers laughter?
Laughter is typically triggered by humor, joy, or amusement.
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Dec 01, 2023
Is laughter a learned behavior?
Laughter is both innate and influenced by social factors.
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Dec 01, 2023
Can laughter be involuntary?
Yes, laughter often occurs spontaneously and involuntarily.
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Dec 01, 2023
Can animals laugh?
Some animals are believed to exhibit laughter-like behaviors.
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Dec 01, 2023
Are there health benefits to laughing?
Yes, laughing can reduce stress and increase endorphins.
Shumaila Saeed
Dec 01, 2023
What does a smile signify?
A smile can signify happiness, friendliness, or comfort.
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Dec 01, 2023
Does smiling affect mood?
Yes, smiling can positively influence one's mood and reduce stress.
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Dec 01, 2023
Why do we laugh in groups?
Laughter in groups enhances bonding and shared experiences.
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Dec 01, 2023
Can smiling be involuntary?
Smiling can be both a natural reaction and a conscious action.
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Dec 01, 2023
What's the difference between genuine and fake laughter?
Genuine laughter is spontaneous and natural, while fake laughter is deliberate and often used for social reasons.
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Dec 01, 2023
Is smiling universal across cultures?
While its interpretation can vary, smiling is generally recognized worldwide.
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Dec 01, 2023
Is smiling a form of communication?
Smiling is an important non-verbal form of communicating emotions.
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Dec 01, 2023
Can smiles be misinterpreted?
Yes, smiles can be misinterpreted depending on the context and culture.
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Dec 01, 2023
Do babies smile instinctively?
Babies smile instinctively, often as early as a few weeks old.
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Dec 01, 2023
Can smiling be a social cue?
Yes, smiling often serves as a social cue for friendliness or agreement.
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Dec 01, 2023
Can laughter be therapeutic?
Yes, laughter therapy is used to improve mental and emotional health.
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Dec 01, 2023
Is it possible to laugh without humor?
Yes, laughter can occur in response to various emotional states, not just humor.
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Dec 01, 2023
Are there different types of smiles?
Yes, there are various types of smiles, each conveying different emotions.
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Dec 01, 2023
Can a smile influence others?
Yes, a smile can have a positive impact on others, often being contagious.
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Dec 01, 2023
What are the physical effects of smiling?
Smiling can relax the body, lower heart rate, and reduce stress.
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Dec 01, 2023
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About Author
Written by
Shumaila SaeedShumaila Saeed, an expert content creator with 6 years of experience, specializes in distilling complex topics into easily digestible comparisons, shining a light on the nuances that both inform and educate readers with clarity and accuracy.
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