eye roll

noun

variants or less commonly eye-roll

ˈī-ˌrōl 

plural eye rolls also eye-rolls

: an upward turning of the eyes especially as an expression of annoyance, exasperation, disbelief, etc. : an instance of rolling the eyes

Historically, anyone who dares to give pro athletes mental advice—be they M.D.s, psychologists or shamans—often gets the eye roll or the pat on the back.

—Jaimal Yogis

Contempt, one of the emotions Gottman watches for at the Love Lab, is detectable through the … buccinator, which pulls the lip corners to the side and creates a distinctly uncute dimple; it's often combined with an upward eye roll.

—Casey Greenfield

His stories always took their time, his daughter said, and usually some winding turns, too. His family's eye-rolls only made him go slower.

—Peter Schworm

"Mom!" She gave me the parents-are-weird eye-roll. The truth is, though, she's proud of me.

—Katha Pollitt

Examples of eye roll in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

George Eliot’s Middlemarch would suffer the same eye rolls. —Brittany Allen, Literary Hub, 8 Sep. 2025

During the trial, after Cardi took the stand to deliver her testimony, several of her impassioned exchanges with the plaintiff's lawyer, Ron Rosen Janfaza, went viral due to her unfiltered, expletive-laced responses and animated expressions, including eye rolls and shrugs. —Charna Flam, People.com, 3 Sep. 2025

The women in red hats are met with eye rolls, indifference and jeers during Chicago City Council meetings. —Chicago Tribune, 28 Aug. 2025

Cue an eye roll reaching the top of my head. —Sharon Goldman, Fortune, 19 Aug. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1928, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for eye roll

• amphibole
• asystole
• buttonhole
• casserole
• centriole
• decontrol
• glycerol
• metropole
• monopole
• multipole
• omeprazole
• oriole