brow ridge
noun
variants
or less commonly browridge
: a prominence of the frontal bone above the eye caused by the projection of the frontal air sinuses
Examples of brow ridge in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
This more or less refers to such physical features as a lack of brow ridges, less-sloped forehead, and smaller teeth that humans have compared to Neanderthals.
—
Joshua Rapp Learn, Discover Magazine, 1 Feb. 2024
While these differences are subtle—such as less prominent brow ridges on T. mcraeensis—this can often be the case for differences between species, the study authors note.
—Will Sullivan, Smithsonian Magazine, 12 Jan. 2024
The fossils include a partial frontal bone, including brow ridge, from the cranium, and the shaft of a shin bone, from Tam Pà Ling, a cave in northern Laos.
—Ryan McRae, Smithsonian Magazine, 28 Dec. 2023
Anthropologists have frequently remarked on the decreasing brow ridges, shortening faces and shrinking heads of humans throughout the Paleolithic.
—Brian Hare, Scientific American, 1 Aug. 2020
Studies have shown that over the past 80,000 years, our faces have shortened and our brow ridges and brains have shrunk.
—Byvirginia Morell, science.org, 3 Apr. 2023
What Are Eyebrows For? A 2018 study published in Nature Ecology & Evolution parsed why early hominins’ brow ridges were so much larger and more rigid than modern humans’ ridges.
—Marisa Sloan, Discover Magazine, 24 Feb. 2023
Yet for naturalists of Schaafhausen's age, such a heavy brow ridge implied not the advanced refinement of European civilization, but wild savagery.
—Carl Zimmer, Discover Magazine, 6 May 2010
Spectacularly complete and beautifully preserved, Skull 5 doesn't look much like the other four crania, with its massive brow ridge and robust, protruding face.
—Gemma Tarlach, Discover Magazine, 10 June 2016
Joshua Rapp Learn, Discover Magazine, 1 Feb. 2024
While these differences are subtle—such as less prominent brow ridges on T. mcraeensis—this can often be the case for differences between species, the study authors note.
—Will Sullivan, Smithsonian Magazine, 12 Jan. 2024
The fossils include a partial frontal bone, including brow ridge, from the cranium, and the shaft of a shin bone, from Tam Pà Ling, a cave in northern Laos.
—Ryan McRae, Smithsonian Magazine, 28 Dec. 2023
Anthropologists have frequently remarked on the decreasing brow ridges, shortening faces and shrinking heads of humans throughout the Paleolithic.
—Brian Hare, Scientific American, 1 Aug. 2020
Studies have shown that over the past 80,000 years, our faces have shortened and our brow ridges and brains have shrunk.
—Byvirginia Morell, science.org, 3 Apr. 2023
What Are Eyebrows For? A 2018 study published in Nature Ecology & Evolution parsed why early hominins’ brow ridges were so much larger and more rigid than modern humans’ ridges.
—Marisa Sloan, Discover Magazine, 24 Feb. 2023
Yet for naturalists of Schaafhausen's age, such a heavy brow ridge implied not the advanced refinement of European civilization, but wild savagery.
—Carl Zimmer, Discover Magazine, 6 May 2010
Spectacularly complete and beautifully preserved, Skull 5 doesn't look much like the other four crania, with its massive brow ridge and robust, protruding face.
—Gemma Tarlach, Discover Magazine, 10 June 2016
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'brow ridge.' 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
1881, in the meaning defined above
Dictionary Entries Near brow ridge
Cite this Entry
“Brow ridge.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/brow%20ridge. Accessed 16 Apr. 2024.
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Kids Definition
browridge
noun
brow·ridge
ˈbrau̇-ˌrij 
: a prominent ridge on the bone above the eye caused by sinuses in the skull
Medical Definition
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