DictionarycheeseSmiling for a photograph
verb

cheese

To smile broadly for a photograph.

The children cheese for the camera.

Etymology

Photographers ask people to say cheese because its vowel draws the mouth into a smilelike position. The verb names producing that broad, posed smile.

More examples

  • She cheesed when her brother raised his phone.
  • They were cheesing in every vacation picture.
  • He has cheesed through three awkward family portraits.

Forms

cheese · cheeses · cheesed · cheesing

Similar words

grin
Means to smile broadly, without requiring a camera.
beam
Suggests a radiant smile expressing happiness.