eyebrow
Americannoun
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the arch or ridge forming the upper part of the orbit of the eye.
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the fringe of hair growing on this arch or ridge.
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a dormer having a roof that is an upwardly curved continuation of the main roof plane.
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Printing, Journalism. kicker.
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Nautical. a curved molding protecting a port from falling or dripping water.
noun
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the transverse bony ridge over each eye
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the arch of hair that covers this ridge
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See raise
Etymology
Origin of eyebrow
Explanation
Your eyebrows are the curved areas of hair on your face above each of your eyes. The purpose of eyebrows is to keep dust and sweat from getting in your eyes. Eyebrows help protect your eyes, but they're also an expressive part of your face, often giving away your mood instantly — especially ones like surprise or anger. While just about everyone can raise and lower both eyebrows together, only some of us can move them independently of each other. The size and shape of eyebrows varies widely from person to person, and many people pluck individual hairs from their eyebrows to shape and thin them.
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.
On Tuesday, cast member Ciara Miller posted an ad for a L’Oréal eyebrow pen that not-so-subtly nodded at the continuing turmoil.
From The Wall Street Journal • May 21, 2026
Through female solidarity, she said with a raised eyebrow and a winking smile, women can “stand up to anything, and anyone.”
From Slate • May 6, 2026
But just because there are fundamental problems with the studio system, it doesn’t mean that Angel’s mission to “amplify light” shouldn’t raise an eyebrow.
From Salon • May 3, 2026
You can never quite relax, because you're always just waiting for the raise of the eyebrow, the suppressed guffaw, the uninvited joke, whatever.
From BBC • Apr. 18, 2026
“Put a check next to the one about the curtain too,” she said, and I looked up at her, eyebrow raised.
From "Glitch" by Laura Martin
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.
