eye

1 of 2

noun

ˈī

: 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

: all the visible structures within and surrounding the orbit and including eyelids, eyelashes, and eyebrows

c(1)

: the faculty of seeing with eyes

(2)

: the faculty of intellectual or aesthetic perception or appreciation

an eye for beauty

(3)

: skill or ability dependent upon eyesight

a batter with a good eye

: look, glance

cast an eager eye

e(1)

: an attentive look

kept an eye on his valuables

(2)

: attention, notice

caught his eye

(3)

: close observation : scrutiny

works under the eye of her boss

in the public eye

: point of view, judgment

beauty is in the eye of the beholder

—often used in plural

an offender in the eyes of the law

: something having an appearance suggestive of an eye: such as

: the hole through the head of a needle

: a usually circular marking (as on a peacock's tail)

: loop

especially : a loop or catch to receive a hook

: an undeveloped bud (as on a potato)

: an area like a hole in the center of a tropical cyclone marked by only light winds or complete calm with no precipitation

: the center of a flower especially when differently colored or marked

specifically : the disk of a composite

g(1)

: a triangular piece of beef cut from between the top and bottom of a round

(2)

: the chief muscle of a chop

(3)

: a compact mass of muscular tissue usually embedded in fat in a rib or loin cut of meat

: a device (such as a photoelectric cell) that functions in a manner analogous to human vision

: something central : center

the eye of the problem—

Norman Mailer

: the direction from which the wind is blowing

eyeless

ˈī-ləs

adjective

eyelike

ˈī-ˌlīk

adjective

Illustration of eye

1 optic nerve
2 blind spot
3 fovea
4 sclera
5 choroid
6 retina
7 ciliary body
8 posterior chamber
9 anterior chamber
10 cornea
11 lens
12 iris
13 suspensory ligament
14 conjunctiva
15 vitreous humor

eye

2 of 2

verb

eyed; eyeing or eying

transitive verb

a(1)

: to fix the eyes on : look at

they eyed him suspiciously

(2)

: contemplate, consider

eyeing the choices

: to watch or study closely

eyeing changes in the stock market

: to furnish with an eye

intransitive verb

obsolete : seem, look

eyer

ˈī(-ə)r

noun

Phrases

an eye for an eye

: retribution in kind

my eye

—used to express mild disagreement or sometimes surprise

a diamond, my eye! That's glass

with an eye to or less commonly with an eye toward

: with awareness or contemplation of

with an eye to the future

: with the object of

built the house with an eye to adding on later

Did you know?

The eye is an organ that receives light and visual images. Non-image forming eyes (also called direction eyes) are found among worms, mollusks, cnidarians, echinoderms, and other invertebrates. Image-forming eyes are found in certain mollusks, most arthropods, and nearly all vertebrates. Arthropods are unique in possessing a compound eye, which results in their seeing a multiple image that is partially integrated in the brain. Lower vertebrates, such as fish, have eyes on either side of the head, allowing a maximum view of the surroundings, but producing two separate fields of vision. In predatory birds and mammals, binocular vision is more important. The placement of both eyes on the front of the head permits a larger overlap of the two visual fields, resulting in a parallel line of direct sight.

Examples of eye in a Sentence

Noun Her eyes slowly became accustomed to the dark. He wears a patch over one eye. I have something in my eye. Only a trained eye can tell the difference between the original painting and a good copy. For decorating, they rely on her discerning eye. He has an artist's eye for color. He reviewed the proposal with a jaundiced eye. The biographer cast a cold eye on the artist's life. Verb I saw someone eyeing me from across the street. a lot of his backyard bird watching was spent eyeing the squirrels as they depleted the bird feeder of seeds

Recent Examples on the Web

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Noun

One year in and Michelle Gass is tweaking Levi Strauss & Co.’s leadership structure with an eye toward streamlining decision making and accelerating the company’s evolution. —

Evan Clark, WWD, 11 Feb. 2025 Until then, keep an eye out for Venus, the planet named after the Roman goddess of love, which will reach peak brightness on Feb. 14—just in time for Valentine’s Day. —

Simmone Shah, TIME, 11 Feb. 2025

Verb

With the conclusion of the 2024 NFL season and Super Bowl LIX in the rearview, teams are already eyeing prospects. —

Justin Gest, Newsweek, 10 Feb. 2025 Lonnie Briley, Coal Battle's trainer, is eyeing the same Oaklawn races as Moquett. —

Bob Wisener Special To The Sentinel-Record, arkansasonline.com, 8 Feb. 2025 See all Example Sentences for eye

Word History

Etymology

Noun

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

Noun

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Verb

15th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1a(1)

Time Traveler

The first known use of eye was before the 12th century

See more words from the same century

Phrases Containing eye

Cite this Entry

Style

“Eye.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/eye. Accessed 17 Feb. 2025.

Copy Citation

Kids Definition

eye

1 of 2 noun

ˈī

: an organ of sight

especially : a rounded hollow organ that is filled with a jellylike material, is lined with a sensitive retina, and is located in a bone-lined cavity in the skull of a vertebrate

: all the visible parts (as the eyelids) within and surrounding the bone-lined cavity

: ability to see or appreciate

a good eye for painting

: glance entry 2 sense 3

cast an eager eye

: close attention or observation

keep an eye on it

: judgment sense 1

guilty in the eyes of the law

: something like or suggestive of an eye: as

: the hole through the head of a needle

: a loop to catch or receive a hook

: an undeveloped bud (as on a potato)

: a device (as a photoelectric cell) that functions somewhat like human vision

: the center of something

the eye of a hurricane

eyed

ˈīd

adjective

eyeless

ˈī-ləs

adjective

eyelike

-ˌlīk

adjective

eye

2 of 2 verb

eyed; eyeing or eying

: to watch or study closely

Medical Definition

eye

noun

ˈī

: an organ of sight

especially : a nearly spherical hollow organ that is lined with a sensitive retina, is lodged in a bony orbit in the skull, is the vertebrate organ of sight, and is normally paired

: all the visible structures within and surrounding the orbit and including eyelids, eyelashes, and eyebrows

: the faculty of seeing with eyes

eyeless

ˈī-ləs

adjective

eyelike

-ˌlīk

adjective

Last Updated: 14 Feb 2025 - Updated example sentences

Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.

Can you solve 4 words at once?

Word of the Day

pertain

See Definitions and Examples »

Get Word of the Day daily email!

eye

noun

Illustration of eye

verb

Did you know?

Synonyms

Examples of eye in a Sentence

Word History

Dictionary Entries Near eye

Cite this Entry

Kids Definition

Medical Definition