eye-rolling

noun

eye-roll·​ing ˈī-ˌrō-liŋ 

variants or less commonly eye rolling

: the action or gesture of turning the eyes upward as an expression of annoyance, exasperation, disbelief, etc. : the rolling of the eyes

Other news anchors read the news. Wilson instructed you. He gave you the impression he had some things to tell you, and you'd be wise to sit up, pipe down and pay attention. And, if it was one of those stories that piqued his ever-vigilant sense of outrage, there was likely to be eye-rolling, deep sighs, and even some head-shaking at the ridiculousness of it all.

—C. W. Nevius

We are out for lunch, waiting patiently for our food. We are probably discussing something important … Either way, when the food hits the table, I will shush you, I will move my plate to the part of the restaurant with the most natural light, and I will take a picture. No amount of eye rolling will make me feel remorse. You think I am a monster. You are wrong.

—Josh Scherer

Examples of eye-rolling in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

But because the movie is anchored by three capable actors, our eye-rolling subsides quickly enough so that the rest of the film can intensify the nerve-jangling consequences of its reversal of fortunes. —Robert Abele, Los Angeles Times, 4 Apr. 2024

Showrooms across the globe play host to first dates, birthday parties, epic games, disco naps and an eye-rolling amount of pranks. —Mariella Rudi, Los Angeles Times, 26 Oct. 2023

In Maya, there’s no trace of an eye-rolling 20-something embarrassed by her dad. —Rebecca Rubin, Variety, 5 Sep. 2023

Read full article In Act II the roles are reversed and the Woman must coax the now-morose Man to return to one of his famous routines, which Lauria delivers with practiced ease, along with some eye-rolling jokes. —Terry Byrne, BostonGlobe.com, 8 Aug. 2023

That means leaning into some of the eye-rolling terms that users are insisting on, including skeets. —Casey Newton, The Verge, 2 May 2023

As Little Red helps herself to a trove of sugary treats, skips across the stage with her basket of baked goods, and tangles with a flamboyantly sinister Wolf (Creel), Geraghty delivers deadpan witticisms, eye-rolling put-downs, and arch comebacks. —Christopher Wallenberg, BostonGlobe.com, 27 Mar. 2023

That’s eye-rolling verbiage to the 99% of us looking for a fast, comforting pick-me-up. —Sam Alden, Los Angeles Times, 23 Feb. 2023

Word History

First Known Use

1837, in the meaning defined above