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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.


eye contact British  

noun

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

    he maintained eye contact with his interrogator

"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 eye contact

First recorded in 1960–65

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.

"Children feel most secure and content when they have our full attention, eye contact, and presence," she said.

From BBC

The closest thing she can think of is her gym - but virtually everyone there wears headphones, she tells me, and few make eye contact.

From BBC

“You could kind of see them making eye contact,” Oduro said.

From The Wall Street Journal

The sound of popcorn-chewing ceased, and we all just kept staring at the television, avoiding eye contact well beyond the end of the scene.

From The Wall Street Journal

She’s holding eye contact like she wants this to sink in.

From Literature