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.
The arrangement also got plenty of side-eyes from lawmakers who felt sidelined by the billionaires. Jonathan Easley, The Hill, 20 Jan. 2025 A couple of guys just giving the side-eye to each other. Julian McKenzie, The Athletic, 18 Jan. 2025 The cussing example is a case, like the side-eye meme, where Black internet users identify with the vice president’s nod to Black culture, in this case through Ebonics. Raven Maragh-Lloyd, The Conversation, 15 Jan. 2025 The social media post from the Sphere was accompanied by a side-eyes emoji. Jessica Nicholson, Billboard, 15 Jan. 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

Dictionary Entries Near side-eye

Cite this Entry

“Side-eye.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/side-eye. Accessed 30 Jan. 2025.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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