bull's-eye

noun

ˈbu̇lz-ˌī How to pronounce bull's-eye (audio)
 also  ˈbəlz-
variants or bullseye
plural bull's-eyes or bullseyes
1
: a very hard globular candy
2
: a circular piece of glass especially with a lump in the middle
3
a
: the center of a target
also : something central or crucial
b
: a shot that hits the bull's-eye
broadly : something that precisely attains a desired end
4
: a simple lens of short focal distance
also : a lantern with such a lens

Examples of bull's-eye in a Sentence

you hit the bull's-eye when you noted that the real issue here is money
Recent Examples on the Web Wilmington is in the bull's-eye for the worst of the flooding. Emily Shapiro, ABC News, 16 Sep. 2024 Biden admits putting Trump in 'bull's-eye' was a mistake. Nicole Russell, USA TODAY, 18 July 2024 The Fed's actions in Washington put a bull's-eye on America's wallets. Susan Tompor, Detroit Free Press, 20 Mar. 2024 On Sunday, the risk for storms moves north, with the Dakotas, Nebraska, western Minnesota and Iowa in the bull's-eye for damaging winds and large hail. Daniel Amarante, ABC News, 1 June 2024 On Sunday, cities in the bull's-eye for tornadoes will be St. Louis, Missouri; Louisville, Kentucky; and Indianapolis. Max Golembo, ABC News, 24 May 2024 Cities in the bull's-eye of these severe storms will be San Antonio, Austin, San Angelo and north to Abilene. Emily Shapiro, ABC News, 2 Feb. 2024 And yesterday President Trump put a bull's-eye on that mission. IEEE Spectrum, 17 Mar. 2017 On Friday, severe weather is forecast from Mississippi to North Carolina with the bull's-eye for damaging winds in northern Mississippi, from Jackson to Tupelo. Max Golembo, ABC News, 12 Jan. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'bull's-eye.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1825, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of bull's-eye was in 1825

Dictionary Entries Near bull's-eye

Cite this Entry

“Bull's-eye.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/bull%27s-eye. Accessed 31 Oct. 2024.

Kids Definition

bull's-eye

noun
ˈbu̇l-ˌzī
1
: a round hard candy
2
a
: the center of a target
b
: a shot that hits the center of a target

More from Merriam-Webster on bull's-eye

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!