The young girl smiled happily at her friend.

Meaning: This sentence describes a young female who expressed joy towards her companion.

Choice of Words: Young means not old or having lived for only a short time. Smiled is the past tense of the verb smile, which means to form a pleasant expression with the mouth. Happily means feeling or showing pleasure.

Alternative Expressions

The little girl grinned broadly at her playmate.

Meaning: This sentence is also describing a young girl who is smiling happily at her friend. However, it uses more descriptive language to paint a more vivid picture in the reader's mind.

Choice of Words: Little is another word for young. Grinned means to smile broadly, showing all of your teeth. Broadly means in a wide or expansive way. Playmate means a person with whom one plays or engages in recreational activities.

The youthful maiden beamed radiantly upon her companion.

Meaning: This sentence is still describing a young girl who is smiling happily at her friend. However, it uses even more formal language and is more poetic in tone.

Choice of Words: Youthful means young or full of youth. Maiden is an old-fashioned word for a young woman. Beamed means to smile broadly and brightly. Radiantly means with great brightness or joy. Companion means a person with whom one spends time or travels.

Related Expressions