eye contact

noun

: visual contact with another person's eyes

Examples of eye contact in a Sentence

He maintained eye contact with me throughout the conversation. The speaker made eye contact with audience members. The jury avoided eye contact with the defendant as the verdict was read.
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.
That pertness should be unbearable, but the scene is written in a minor key and performed by both actors to match, favouring eye contact and murmurs; the sheer brevity prevents it from becoming gloopy or crass. Caspar Salmon, Variety, 21 Aug. 2026 The players either dramatically make or subtly avoid eye contact with one another as the song builds to an epic crescendo, complete with eerie chanting, orchestral bombast, and booming timpani drums. Dalton Ross, Entertainment Weekly, 18 Aug. 2026 Somehow, what has always felt like the right amount of eye contact from my end has often been less than for her. Terry Ward, CNN Money, 15 Aug. 2026 Holding up a colander and looking at its shadow is an alternative way to view the phenomenon, the UKHSA suggests, but people must still avoid any direct eye contact with the sun. Callum Sutherland, Time, 7 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for eye contact

Word History

First Known Use

1942, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of eye contact was in 1942

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Eye contact.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/eye%20contact. Accessed 23 Aug. 2026.

Kids Definition

eye contact

noun
: the act of looking another person straight in the eye

Medical Definition

eye contact

noun
: visual contact with another person's eyes
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