bleary-eyed
Americanadjective
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having bleary eyes.
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dull of perception; shortsighted.
adjective
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with eyes blurred, as with old age or after waking
-
physically or mentally unperceptive
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.
By the time dinner was over, the last thing I wanted to do was return to the kitchen — which meant greeting the wreckage the next morning, bleary-eyed, just trying to make coffee.
From Salon • Dec. 20, 2025
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
Given the extent of Sunday's celebrations, the Scots would be forgiven for showing up bleary-eyed just 48 hours later in Lille, but a side featuring eight changes held their own for periods despite the scoreline.
From BBC • Oct. 17, 2023
She sat up, bleary-eyed, and asked, “What’s going on?”
From "Ash" by Malinda Lo
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
