eyeball

American  

[ahy-bawl] / ˈaɪˌbɔl /

noun

1. the ball or globe of the eye.

2. Informal. eyeballs, people who view or read something.

   Old TV shows are getting a lot of eyeballs online.

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verb (used with object)

1. Informal. to look at, check, or observe closely.

   two opponents eyeballing each other.

idioms

1. give (someone) the hairy eyeball, to look at (someone) with eyelids partly lowered, as in hostility or distrust.

eyeball British  

/ ˈaɪˌbɔːl /

noun

1. the entire ball-shaped part of the eye

2. in close confrontation

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verb

1. slang (tr) to stare at

Other Word Forms

• eyeballer noun

Etymology

Origin of eyeball

1580–90; 1900–05 eyeball for def. 3; eye + ball ¹

Example Sentences

I sense that the talk of missing eyeballs has you feeling a little squeamish.

From Literature

The mass behind his eyeball grew into his nasal cavity and the side of his neck, he told The Times.

From Los Angeles Times

Locals loved the story about the one-eyed New York man who had a special bloodshot glass eyeball made, so that when he came to L.A. on business, his fake eye matched his real one.

From Los Angeles Times

But, as it turns out, some messes are too big to leverage even for forgiving eyeballs of reality fans.

From Los Angeles Times

It was an act of corporate synergy likely to draw eyeballs.

From The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• analyze
• check
• check out
• comb
• consider
• dissect
• explore
• inspect
• investigate
• look over
• peruse
• pore over
• probe
• scan
• sift
• watch
• weigh