smoky eye

American  

[smoh-kee ahy] / ˈsmoʊ ki ˌaɪ /

Also smokey eye

noun

1. Often smoky eyes a style of eye makeup application in which dark eyeshadow is applied to the top and bottom eyelids and blended for a dramatic effect (often used attributively).

   the perfect smoky eye; gorgeous smoky eyes; a dreamy smoky eye look.

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Etymology

Origin of smoky eye

First recorded in 2005–10

Example Sentences

Black hair, a floppy fringe covering a smoky eye, and music from bands like Green Day is probably how most remember the emo sub-culture in the early 2000s.

From BBC • Jan. 25, 2025

A full face of makeup, including a nice smoky eye with cat eyeliner and lips done in the singer’s required “wet” lipstick.

From Los Angeles Times • Dec. 6, 2021

Or your friend persuades you to try blue smoky eye shadow, or tells you that sage green bridesmaid dress looks soooo cute, or, ugh, remember that one year every godawful thing was millennial pink?

From Washington Post • Aug. 16, 2021

“I think a lot of people have realized that the same smoky eye can be somewhat boring,” she says.

From The Guardian • May 8, 2020

Now that I’m dressed, the hair totally works, and I’ve got the rosy cheeks thing and the smoky eye thing and the freckled shoulder thing all happening at once.

From "Leah on the Offbeat" by Becky Albertalli