plural chins
1
: the lower portion of the face lying below the lower lip and including the prominence of the lower jaw
2
: the surface beneath or between the branches of the lower jaw
see also take it on the chin
chinned; chinning
1
: to bring to or hold with the chin
chin a violin
2
: to raise (oneself) while hanging by the hands until the chin is level with the support
slang : to talk idly
Synonyms
Examples of chin in a Sentence
Verb the kind of work environment in which staffers can knock off early on Friday and chin with the boss
Recent Examples on the Web
Bailey Richards, Peoplemag, 7 Apr. 2024 And it’s got to be a certain height that’s going to accentuate my cheekbones and my chin. —Kathryn Shattuck, New York Times, 30 Mar. 2024 Why would a belt holder like Terence Crawford (40-0, 31 KOs), WBC, IBF and WBC risk his chin for a guy who doesn’t have PPV energy? —Ivan Carter, San Diego Union-Tribune, 29 Mar. 2024 Safely attempt to lift yourself enough so your chin rises above the height of the bar. —Jacqueline Andriakos, Health, 13 Mar. 2024 In a second photo, Brittany zoomed the camera in to show the redness and small bumps around her upper lip and on her chin. —Michelle Lee, Peoplemag, 26 Mar. 2024 Her hair is parted deeply to one side and is curled under at the ends, hitting just below her chin. —Kara Nesvig, Allure, 20 Mar. 2024 Translation: Less trauma to the skin, no perceptible scarring, longer-lasting results (up to 15 years), and improved definition—that key indicator of success—throughout the jaw, cheeks, chin, and neck. —Adam Hurly, Robb Report, 19 Mar. 2024 Her chin tilt is the very axis on which the show spins. —Margaret Lyons, New York Times, 14 Mar. 2024
Hilary Tetenbaum, Detroit Free Press, 8 Apr. 2024 Zaoui is stout and broad chinned, with thick eyebrows and a sweep of dark hair. —Longreads, 5 Mar. 2024 Álvarez is compact and chiseled, and carries himself, chin up, like a boxer entering the ring. —Kate Linthicum, Los Angeles Times, 5 May 2023 Then laughs from the back of the room while Paul sat with his hat on backward, chin up and a slight smirk. —Duane Rankin, The Arizona Republic, 19 Apr. 2023 The halo darkened, snuffed, the deceiving tremor of the fitful candle flame, and from brow to chin a split, a splintering, a slash—the icon severed in a shower of fragments, all at once capsized by a deadly smash. —Cynthia Ozick, Harper’s Magazine , 10 Apr. 2023 As a young lion, eyes closed, chin up. —David Harsanyi, National Review, 2 Feb. 2023 But when done correctly, smoking is a lovely way to pass an evening chinning with a friend or tussling with a bit of writing. —Luther Ray Abel, National Review, 16 Feb. 2023 Now chin up and prepare to look your best. —Jeremy Helligar, Popular Science, 18 Dec. 2020
Noun
Ringwald appeared to be on mom duty, wiping something from Roman’s chin as both of them smiled widely. —Bailey Richards, Peoplemag, 7 Apr. 2024 And it’s got to be a certain height that’s going to accentuate my cheekbones and my chin. —Kathryn Shattuck, New York Times, 30 Mar. 2024 Why would a belt holder like Terence Crawford (40-0, 31 KOs), WBC, IBF and WBC risk his chin for a guy who doesn’t have PPV energy? —Ivan Carter, San Diego Union-Tribune, 29 Mar. 2024 Safely attempt to lift yourself enough so your chin rises above the height of the bar. —Jacqueline Andriakos, Health, 13 Mar. 2024 In a second photo, Brittany zoomed the camera in to show the redness and small bumps around her upper lip and on her chin. —Michelle Lee, Peoplemag, 26 Mar. 2024 Her hair is parted deeply to one side and is curled under at the ends, hitting just below her chin. —Kara Nesvig, Allure, 20 Mar. 2024 Translation: Less trauma to the skin, no perceptible scarring, longer-lasting results (up to 15 years), and improved definition—that key indicator of success—throughout the jaw, cheeks, chin, and neck. —Adam Hurly, Robb Report, 19 Mar. 2024 Her chin tilt is the very axis on which the show spins. —Margaret Lyons, New York Times, 14 Mar. 2024
Verb
Set alerts to remind yourself to stand up straight: shoulders back, chin up, core braced. —Hilary Tetenbaum, Detroit Free Press, 8 Apr. 2024 Zaoui is stout and broad chinned, with thick eyebrows and a sweep of dark hair. —Longreads, 5 Mar. 2024 Álvarez is compact and chiseled, and carries himself, chin up, like a boxer entering the ring. —Kate Linthicum, Los Angeles Times, 5 May 2023 Then laughs from the back of the room while Paul sat with his hat on backward, chin up and a slight smirk. —Duane Rankin, The Arizona Republic, 19 Apr. 2023 The halo darkened, snuffed, the deceiving tremor of the fitful candle flame, and from brow to chin a split, a splintering, a slash—the icon severed in a shower of fragments, all at once capsized by a deadly smash. —Cynthia Ozick, Harper’s Magazine , 10 Apr. 2023 As a young lion, eyes closed, chin up. —David Harsanyi, National Review, 2 Feb. 2023 But when done correctly, smoking is a lovely way to pass an evening chinning with a friend or tussling with a bit of writing. —Luther Ray Abel, National Review, 16 Feb. 2023 Now chin up and prepare to look your best. —Jeremy Helligar, Popular Science, 18 Dec. 2020
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'chin.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
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Cite this Entry
“Chin.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/chin. Accessed 18 Apr. 2024.
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