side-eye

noun

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 the
… 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
side-eye verb, transitive + intransitive
She wears clothes that would have Kerry Washington's Olivia Pope side-eyeing in envy. Kevin Fallon

Examples of side-eye in a Sentence

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.
Questlove simply shared a post about the news on his Instagram Story and added a side-eye emoji. Hannah Dailey, Billboard, 18 July 2025 But do younger people really intend to be giving off side-eye vibes with this behavior? Melissa Willets, Parents, 17 July 2025 Still, the timing of the post and decision to highlight that bar in particular has Bey fans hitting Nicki and her followers with the side-eye. Jessica Bennett, VIBE.com, 15 July 2025 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 See All Example Sentences for side-eye

Word History

First Known Use

1797, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of side-eye was in 1797

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Cite this Entry

“Side-eye.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/side-eye. Accessed 25 Jul. 2025.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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