eye contact

American  

noun

1. the act of looking directly into another's eyes.

   We never made eye contact at any time during the interview.

2. Psychology. a meeting of the eyes of two persons, regarded as a meaningful nonverbal form of communication.

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eye contact British  

noun

1. a direct look between two people; meeting of eyes

   he maintained eye contact with his interrogator

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Etymology

Origin of eye contact

First recorded in 1960–65

Example Sentences

If you encounter a coyote, keep a safe distance and back away slowly while maintaining eye contact, according to the agency.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 3, 2026

But they refused to make eye contact with fans and appeared overwhelmed with anxiety, said Anahita Amini, an electrical engineer living in Brisbane, who attended the two matches.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 12, 2026

Some sipped coffees, and looked around, avoided eye contact, and waited.

From Slate • Jan. 27, 2026

This work builds on Lipson's long-running effort to help robots form more natural connections with people by learning facial behaviors such as smiling, eye contact, and speech.

From Science Daily • Jan. 16, 2026

He wore his bronze eyeshades as he marched, probably to avoid eye contact with his fellow travelers for a while.

From "The Many Assassinations of Samir, the Seller of Dreams" by Daniel Nayeri