Eye — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

noun verb /ˈī/

Meaning & Definition of Eye

Eye (noun)

  1. a specialized light-sensitive sensory structure of animals that in nearly all vertebrates, most arthropods, and some mollusks is the image-forming organ of sight; especially, the nearly spherical usually paired hollow organ of sight in vertebrates that is filled with a jellylike material, is lined with a photosensitive retina, and is lodged in a bony orbit in the skull
  2. all the visible structures within and surrounding the orbit and including eyelids, eyelashes, and eyebrows
  3. the faculty of seeing with eyes

Eye (verb)

  1. to fix the eyes on, look at
  2. contemplate, consider
  3. to watch or study closely

Eye (noun) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. a circular strip

    "push the drawstring through the metal eye and knot it on one end"

    similar: band, circle, hoop, loop, ring, round
  2. a state of being aware

    "this young actor has the eye of every director in Hollywood"

  3. a thing or place that is of greatest importance to an activity or interest

    "this wilderness area is at the eye of the controversy between conservation and development"

  4. an idea that is believed to be true or valid without positive knowledge

    "in my eye, cats make better pets than dogs"

    near: fact, truth
  5. an instance of looking especially briefly

    "all of the hungry luncheon guests cast an eager eye on the buffet table as they took their seats"

  6. the ability to see

    "her eyes are diminishing with age"

    similar: eyesight, sight, vision
  7. a fixed intent look

    "peering through the binoculars with a sharp eye"

    similar: aspect (archaic), gape, gaze, regard, scrutiny, stare
    near: blink (chiefly Scottish), flash, glance, glimpse, peek, peep, sight, stime (chiefly Scottish & Irish), oeillade, ogle, browse, scan

Eye (verb) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. to keep one's eyes on

    "a lot of his backyard bird watching was spent eyeing the squirrels as they depleted the bird feeder of seeds"

    near: blink, wink
  2. to make note of (something) through the use of one's eyes

    "I wondered who tracked dirt all over the floor until I eyed the muddy sneakers"

  3. to give serious and careful thought to

    "we're eyeing the possibility of buying property there"

Related Entry: Eye candy (noun)

Eye candy is a different word from Eye. The synonyms below are for eye candy, not for eye.

  1. something attractive but lacking in substance

    "a fashionable portrait painter in his day, he is now regarded as a minor purveyor of eye candy"

    similar: candyfloss (British), cotton candy, tinsel

Related Entry: Eye-catching (adjective)

Eye-catching is a different word from Eye. The synonyms below are for eye-catching, not for eye.

  1. likely to attract attention

    "Brad needs an eye-catching slogan for his campaign for president of the student body"

Related Entry: Eye-opening (adjective)

Eye-opening is a different word from Eye. The synonyms below are for eye-opening, not for eye.

  1. causing a strong emotional reaction because of unexpectedness

    "hunting for a first apartment in a big city is an eye-opening experience for young people"

    opposite: unsurprising
  2. causing wonder or astonishment

    "that acclaimed magic act had a number of eye-opening moments"

Related Entry: Eye view (noun)

Eye view is a different word from Eye. The synonyms below are for eye view, not for eye.

  1. a way of looking at or thinking about something

    "from my eye view, it looks as if both of you are in the wrong"

Related Entry: Eye-opener (noun)

Eye-opener is a different word from Eye. The synonyms below are for eye-opener, not for eye.

  1. something that shows or teaches you something in a surprising way

    "Traveling abroad can be a real eye-opener to many people."

    "They say her biography is quite an eye-opener."

Related Entry: Eye shadow (noun)

Eye shadow is a different word from Eye. The synonyms below are for eye shadow, not for eye.

  1. as in cream, oil

Related Entry: Eye shadows (noun)

Eye shadows is a different word from Eye. The synonyms below are for eye shadows, not for eye.

  1. as in creams, oils

Related Entry: Eye-catcher (noun)

Eye-catcher is a different word from Eye. The synonyms below are for eye-catcher, not for eye.

  1. as in spot, sight

    opposite: vision

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Eye

The most common words with a similar meaning to Eye:

Archaic: aspect
Slang: get a load of

Near Antonyms of Eye

Word Forms of Eye

Inflections: eyed, eyeing, eying

Derived words: eyeless (adjective), eyelike (adjective), eyer (noun)

Origin & Etymology of Eye

Middle English, from Old English ēage; akin to Old High German ouga eye, Latin oculus, Greek ōps eye, face, Sanskrit akṣi eye

First known use: before 12th century

Vocabulary Lists & Topics for Eye

Words & Phrases Containing Eye

Frequently Asked Questions about Eye

What does "Eye" mean?

"Eye" means a specialized light-sensitive sensory structure of animals that in nearly all vertebrates, most arthropods, and some mollusks is the image-forming organ of sight; especially, the nearly spherical usually paired hollow organ of sight in vertebrates that is filled with a jellylike material, is lined with a photosensitive retina, and is lodged in a bony orbit in the skull. As an a noun and a verb, it is defined as: a specialized light-sensitive sensory structure of animals that in nearly all vertebrates, most arthropods, and some mollusks is the image-forming organ of sight; especially, the nearly spherical usually paired hollow organ of sight in vertebrates that is filled with a jellylike material, is lined with a photosensitive retina, and is lodged in a bony orbit in the skull. It has 10 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Eye"?

Other words for "Eye" include band, circle, hoop, loop, ring, round, advertence and advertency. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Eye" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Eye"?

There are 274 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Eye". Common alternatives include band, circle, hoop, loop, ring, round, advertence, advertency, attention and awareness.

How do you use "Eye" in a sentence?

Examples of "Eye" in a sentence: "push the drawstring through the metal eye and knot it on one end"; "this young actor has the eye of every director in Hollywood"; "this wilderness area is at the eye of the controversy between conservation and development".

Is "Eye" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Eye" can be used as a noun and a verb, depending on the context.

Is "Eye" useful for IELTS, TOEFL, and other English exams?

As an A1-level word, "Eye" is typical of Cambridge A1 Movers (Young Learners), TOEIC Listening & Reading 120+.

How do you pronounce "Eye"?

"Eye" is pronounced /ˈī/.

What is the origin of the word "Eye"?

"Eye" comes from Middle English, from Old English ēage; akin to Old High German ouga eye, Latin oculus, Greek ōps eye, face, Sanskrit akṣi eye. First known use: before 12th century.