eye-rolling

noun

eye-roll·​ing ˈī-ˌrō-liŋ How to pronounce eye-rolling (audio)
variants or less commonly eye rolling
: the action or gesture of turning the eyes upward as an expression of annoyance, exasperation, disbelief, etc. : the rolling of the eyes
Other news anchors read the news. Wilson instructed you. He gave you the impression he had some things to tell you, and you'd be wise to sit up, pipe down and pay attention. And, if it was one of those stories that piqued his ever-vigilant sense of outrage, there was likely to be eye-rolling, deep sighs, and even some head-shaking at the ridiculousness of it all.C. W. Nevius
We are out for lunch, waiting patiently for our food. We are probably discussing something important … Either way, when the food hits the table, I will shush you, I will move my plate to the part of the restaurant with the most natural light, and I will take a picture. No amount of eye rolling will make me feel remorse. You think I am a monster. You are wrong.Josh Scherer

Examples of eye-rolling 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.
The new series opens with a gasping, eye-rolling Dexter (Michael C. Hall) being rushed to the hospital in the present day. Ben Travers, IndieWire, 13 Dec. 2024 Bryan Cranston is also back to voice Po’s goofy biological father and James Hong returns as his spirited adoptive goose dad, while Dustin Hoffman reprises his role as eye-rolling master Shifu. Mark Kennedy, San Diego Union-Tribune, 6 Mar. 2024 The TikTok of the transportation hearing was widely shared on X, formerly known as Twitter, often with laughing faces or eye-rolling emojis. Kinsey Crowley, USA TODAY, 26 Sep. 2024 Jenna Ortega steals the show as the eye-rolling eldest daughter in this cheerful, breezy comedy. Danny Horn, EW.com, 20 July 2024 All those years filled with too many losses and irrelevant seasons, so many false starts and eye-rolling moves, provided the perfect context to their smiles. Dave Hyde, Sun Sentinel, 1 July 2024 Her deadpan, eye-rolling ennui is perfect for the role of a drunken could-be widow whose innate cynicism has risen to the level of nihilism — not a big jump, given her circumstances. Bill Goodykoontz, The Arizona Republic, 26 June 2024 Because no one gets more dire warnings, eye-rolling criticism or conflicting information thrown at them than parents. Mary McNamara, Los Angeles Times, 23 Apr. 2024 But because the movie is anchored by three capable actors, our eye-rolling subsides quickly enough so that the rest of the film can intensify the nerve-jangling consequences of its reversal of fortunes. Robert Abele, Los Angeles Times, 4 Apr. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1837, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of eye-rolling was in 1837

Dictionary Entries Near eye-rolling

Cite this Entry

“Eye-rolling.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/eye-rolling. Accessed 21 Dec. 2024.

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