I don't think a smile curve one's lips. It is the reverse - you curve your lips to smile.
He curved his lips to give a tentative smile.

English Teacher
Hello.
Can I say "tentative or reluctant smile"?
Do these work?
1. A tentative smile curved his lips.
2. A reluctant smile curved his lips.
I don't think a smile curve one's lips. It is the reverse - you curve your lips to smile.
He curved his lips to give a tentative smile.
I am not a teacher or a native speaker.
It doesn't work for me. I don't really understand the concept of either a tentative smile or a reluctant smile.
Not a professional teacher
It is a hesitant or unwilling smile.
I am not a teacher or a native speaker.
Both words are fine. They mean different things. I agree that curved is somewhat unnatural. You might try:
- He smiled tentatively. (That is, uncertainly.)
- He smiled reluctantly. (That is, with misgivings.)
I'm not a teacher. I speak American English. I've tutored writing at the University of Southern Maine and have done a good deal of copy editing and writing, occasionally for publication.
Well, it might work in a situation in which somebody insisted that the person smile. Them you might say:
He smiled reluctantly.
Not a professional teacher
I found curve and smiling in the dictionary:
https://www.ldoceonline.com/dictionary/curve
Check the verb definition and example.
What other verb can I use? I know I can use smile as a verb, but I want to see if there are other verbs.
I'm not a teacher. I speak American English. I've tutored writing at the University of Southern Maine and have done a good deal of copy editing and writing, occasionally for publication.
I'm not a teacher. I speak American English. I've tutored writing at the University of Southern Maine and have done a good deal of copy editing and writing, occasionally for publication.