Showing results for bleary-eyed. Search instead for bleareyed.

bleary-eyed

American

[bleer-ee-ahyd] / ˈblɪər iˌaɪd /

Also blear-eyed

adjective

having bleary eyes.
dull of perception; shortsighted.

bleary-eyed British

adjective

with eyes blurred, as with old age or after waking
physically or mentally unperceptive

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of bleary-eyed

Middle English word dating back to 1350–1400

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

See Examples For:

bleary-eyed

As Lenny left the stage, an exodus of crying babies, sugar-crashed toddlers and bleary-eyed parents trickled down the steep stairs.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 2, 2026

While some industries such as manufacturing and retail will be less able to provide flexibility, others are offering bleary-eyed fans later starts so they can catch up on sleep.

From BBC ● Jul. 3, 2026

I’ve been wanting to come to Surya since it opened in the bleary-eyed re-emergence of 2021 as a beacon of peace and calm.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 20, 2025

Inside the Palais, bleary-eyed attendees are treated to gratis espresso.

From Seattle Times ● May 14, 2024

The next morning, I come into the dining room bleary-eyed.

From "What the Night Sings" by Vesper Stamper

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Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023