squint

American  

[skwint] / skwɪnt /

verb (used without object)

1. to look with the eyes partly closed.

2. Ophthalmology. to be affected with strabismus; be cross-eyed.

3. to look or glance obliquely or sidewise; look askance.

4. to make or have an indirect reference to or bearing on; tend or incline toward (usually followed by toward, at, etc.).

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verb (used with object)

1. to close (the eyes) partly in looking.

   The baby squinted his eyes at the bright lights.

2. to cause to squint; cause to look obliquely.

noun

1. an act or instance of squinting.

2. Ophthalmology. a condition of the eye consisting in noncoincidence of the optic axes; strabismus.

3. Informal. a quick glance.

   Let me have a squint at that paper.

4. a looking obliquely or askance.

5. an indirect reference.

6. an inclination or tendency, especially an oblique or perverse one.

7. Also called hagioscope.  (in a church) a small opening in a wall giving a view of the altar.

adjective

1. looking obliquely; looking with a side glance; looking askance.

2. Ophthalmology. (of the eyes) affected with strabismus.

squint British  

/ skwɪnt /

verb

1. (usually intr) to cross or partly close (the eyes)

2. (intr) to have a squint

3. (intr) to look or glance sideways or askance

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noun

1. the nontechnical name for strabismus

2. the act or an instance of squinting; glimpse

3. Also called: hagioscope.  a narrow oblique opening in a wall or pillar of a church to permit a view of the main altar from a side aisle or transept

4. informal a quick look; glance

adjective

1. having a squint

2. informal crooked; askew

Other Word Forms

• squinter
  noun
• squintingly
  adverb
• squintingness
  noun
• squinty
  adjective
• unsquinting
  adjective

Etymology

Origin of squint

First recorded in 1350–1400 as an adverb “with a squint; askant,” and 1570–80 for adjective senses; Middle English; variant of asquint

Explanation

You squint when you squeeze your eyes almost shut. If you are trying to see something far away, you will probably squint while you strain your eyes to see more clearly. When the sun shines brilliantly through the car windshield, the driver will squint, or squeeze her eyes almost shut against the bright light. This is probably a good moment for the driver to grab her sunglasses! You'll squint when a light is suddenly turned on in a dark room, and you might also squint when you're trying to read tiny type on a food label or medicine bottle. The expression on your face, and the action of doing this, are both called a squint as well. Squint comes from the now rare adverb asquint, or "from the corner of the eyes."

Example Sentences

Squint and you’ll spot even more narrative set-up, including photos of Doc’s personal heroes, which pointedly include Benjamin Franklin, the harnesser of lightning.

From Los Angeles Times • Oct. 30, 2025

Squint hard, and Congress almost looks to be functioning as intended, with a majority of members coming together to advance vital legislation.

From Seattle Times • Apr. 25, 2024

MEMPHIS, Tenn. — Squint a little as you take in the scene, or just close your eyes and listen to the voice, and 2023 stumbles back into another era.

From Washington Times • Apr. 16, 2023

Squint and you might mistake the latest Billboard album chart for last week’s: Almost all of the top slots are unchanged, led by Taylor Swift at No. 1 for a fourth time with “Midnights.”

From New York Times • Nov. 28, 2022

“It’s beautiful when it sparkles in the sunlight,” replied Squint.

From "The Very, Very Far North" by Dan Bar-el

Related Words

• peek
• peep