bleary-eyed

American  

[bleer-ee-ahyd] / ˈblɪər iˌaɪd /

Also blear-eyed

adjective

1. having bleary eyes.

2. dull of perception; shortsighted.

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bleary-eyed British  

adjective

1. with eyes blurred, as with old age or after waking

2. physically or mentally unperceptive

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Etymology

Origin of bleary-eyed

Middle English word dating back to 1350–1400

Example Sentences

Finally, I locate the correct exit and, bleary-eyed, take a taxi home.

From BBC • May 23, 2025

Of course, as any bleary-eyed obsessive knows, the real guy is most likely dead at this point, but don’t call filmmaker Charlie Shackleton late to the game.

From Los Angeles Times • Jan. 23, 2025

I remembered Heather’s feed as one bleary-eyed, desperate-looking selfie after another, hard to look at and hard to look away from.

From Salon • May 7, 2024

Lorenzen was bleary-eyed a day after the best outing of his career.

From Seattle Times • Aug. 10, 2023

Somehow, during the long, bleary-eyed days of 1959, she accepted an offer even more enticing than being invited into the editorial meetings: Jim Johnsons marriage proposal.

From "Hidden Figures" by Margot Lee Shetterly