WordGarden.ioeyeball
C2Pronunciation
UK
- /ˈaɪbɔːl/
US
- /ˈaɪˌbɔl/
Meanings
Noun
the round part of the eye inside its socket
(informal)a viewer or unit of audience attention
Verb
to look at someone or something directly or closely
to estimate by sight rather than by exact measurement
Beyond the definition
The eyeball isn't just the round part in your head that lets you see. It's also a verb that means to look at something closely, often with suspicion or care. A detective might eyeball a crime scene, checking every detail. Or you might eyeball the price tag on something, trying to decide if it's worth buying. We usually just say look at, but "eyeball" adds a feeling of direct, focused attention. Think of it as giving something a good, hard look.
Sometimes, "eyeball" is used informally to estimate something, like how much paint you'll need for a project. You're not measuring it exactly; you're just making a quick visual guess. It can also mean to face or challenge someone directly: "He eyeballed me across the room."
The eyeball, first and foremost, is the round organ of sight in humans and animals. It sits in the eye socket and is a complex structure that receives light and sends signals to the brain, letting you see the world around you. It's made up of many parts, including the cornea, iris, pupil, lens, retina, and optic nerve, all working together in harmony.
But "eyeball" isn't just anatomy. As a verb, it means to look at something carefully or critically. A carpenter might eyeball a piece of wood before cutting it, checking for flaws. A chef might eyeball the ingredients, adding a pinch of this and a dash of that without exact measurement. This use suggests a quick visual judgment rather than a careful calculation.
The word has a slightly informal tone and often suggests suspicion or close attention. "The security guard eyeballed everyone entering the building" suggests he was watching them closely for any sign of trouble. It can also mean to confront someone directly: "She eyeballed him, demanding an explanation."
Historically, "eyeball" as a verb likely comes from the idea of using your own eyes to judge something directly. So whether you're talking about the organ of sight or about giving something a good, hard look, "eyeball" carries a sense of directness and visual attention.
Examples
- 1
Cooking
She eyeballed the cake for a moment to see if it was done.
- 2
Rough measurement
I didn't measure the space for the sofa; I just eyeballed it.
- Phraseeyeball it
judge something by looking, not by measuring
- 3
Checking numbers
Can you eyeball these numbers and tell me if anything looks wrong?
- 4
Confrontation
The two players ended up eyeball to eyeball after the foul.
- Phraseeyeball to eyeball
extremely close and face to face
More examplesFewer examples
- 5
Media audience
The editor changed the headline to get more eyeballs on the article.
- Phraseget more eyeballs on
attract more viewers or readers
See also
Forms and spellings
2 forms open this card.
Main spelling
- eyeballnounverb
Forms
- eyeballspluralnounverb