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

Rather, Olen cracked dad jokes that elicited eye rolls from the kids. —David Gleisner, Outside, 24 Mar. 2026

The request triggers eye rolls from their fellow participants, who laugh and chat between frames, barely acknowledging the couple—moments Finzer and Kuo use instead to get touch-ups from their own hair and makeup team. —Clara Molot, Vanity Fair, 17 Mar. 2026

Another source of eye rolls among attendees was a lack of Wi-Fi and spotty phone service. —Beatrice Nolan, Fortune, 23 Feb. 2026

During the trial, many of Cardi's impassioned exchanges with the Janfaza went viral due to her unfiltered, expletive-laced responses and animated expressions, including eye rolls and shrugs. —Charlotte Phillipp, PEOPLE, 30 Jan. 2026

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