variants
or less commonly side eye
: a sidelong glance or gaze especially when expressing scorn, suspicion, disapproval, or veiled curiosity
The guy who stole your heart as the class clown can seem like just a clown out of his original context, like when people are giving him side-eye for cracking lame jokes in the hostess line.—
Lauren Panariello
—often used with theLauren Panariello… the singular focus on results washes away concerns about getting the side-eye from a colleague judging you for not being in your cubicle …—The Chicago Tribune
The Chicago Tribune
side-eye
verb, transitive + intransitive
She wears clothes that would have Kerry Washington's Olivia Pope side-eyeing in envy.
—Kevin Fallon
Kevin Fallon
Examples of side-eye in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
The clip, which shows the dog giving its owner furtive side-eye while cautiously walking by captured the breed's endearing blend of innocence and mischief.
—Maria Morava, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 June 2025
One is a fearless, intelligent rape survivor and police detective on Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, while the other is best known as a 1950s bombshell whose voluptuous assets once even caused Sophia Loren to give her some serious side-eye.
—Maureen Lee Lenker, EW.com, 27 June 2025
Not Everything Is a Hit While many upgrades draw admiration, some outdoor trends are generating neighborhood side-eyes.
—Elizabeth Fogarty, Better Homes & Gardens, 19 June 2025
Blackwell then gave a cheeky side-eye directly to the camera, preemptively admitting that the title would in fact have her former stage name.
—Charna Flam, People.com, 10 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for side-eye
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.
Maria Morava, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 June 2025
One is a fearless, intelligent rape survivor and police detective on Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, while the other is best known as a 1950s bombshell whose voluptuous assets once even caused Sophia Loren to give her some serious side-eye.
—Maureen Lee Lenker, EW.com, 27 June 2025
Not Everything Is a Hit While many upgrades draw admiration, some outdoor trends are generating neighborhood side-eyes.
—Elizabeth Fogarty, Better Homes & Gardens, 19 June 2025
Blackwell then gave a cheeky side-eye directly to the camera, preemptively admitting that the title would in fact have her former stage name.
—Charna Flam, People.com, 10 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for side-eye
Cite this Entry
“Side-eye.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/side-eye. Accessed 22 Jul. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share