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Synonyms

eyebrow

American  
[ahy-brou] / ˈaɪˌbraʊ /

noun

  • eyebrows
    plural
  1. the arch or ridge forming the upper part of the orbit of the eye.

  2. the fringe of hair growing on this arch or ridge.

  3. a dormer having a roof that is an upwardly curved continuation of the main roof plane.

  4. Printing, Journalism. kicker.

  5. Nautical. a curved molding protecting a port from falling or dripping water.


eyebrow British  
/ ˈaɪˌbraʊ /

noun

  1. the transverse bony ridge over each eye

  2. the arch of hair that covers this ridge

  3. See raise

"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

eyebrow Idioms  

Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

Etymology

Origin of eyebrow

First recorded in 1575–85; eye + brow

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.

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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.

See Examples For:

I am forever envious that Andrea can mimic Curry’s raised eyebrow.

From Los Angeles Times Aug. 26, 2026

“What did raise many an eyebrow was Warsh’s tough talk on inflation, accompanied by no real indication that any actions were on offer anytime soon,” said Douglas Porter, chief economist at BMO Capital Markets.

From MarketWatch Aug. 4, 2026

The man who with a tweak here and a raised eyebrow there has accumulated triumphs all over Europe.

From BBC Jul. 6, 2026

These days, news that the housing market continues to be in a funk barely elicits an eyebrow raise from traders.

From Barron's Jun. 16, 2026

There it was: the delicately arched eyebrow, the waves of brown hair cascading poetically over that intelligent forehead....No doubt he was busy thinking up plot twists even now....

From "The Interrupted Tale" by Maryrose Wood

His last film role had been as the sinister Mystery Man, with a vampire pallor and no eyebrows, in David Lynch’s dreamlike 1997 thriller “Lost Highway.”

From Los Angeles Times Jul. 30, 2026

Then, just three months later, the ask shot back up by more than $1 million, settling at $6.995 million, a move that may well have raised a few eyebrows among buyers.

From MarketWatch Jul. 30, 2026

Presumably they were hoping for more than this, since the proposal has been met with raised eyebrows rather than adulation.

From The Wall Street Journal Jul. 23, 2026

Still, his relatively low profile—Schroyer recently retired from the state Department of Public Safety as a major—and lack of exposure to Washington have raised eyebrows across the administration.

From The Wall Street Journal Jul. 3, 2026

“No,” she said, and added when he raised his eyebrows: “No, thank you. I know exactly what I’m looking for.”

From "Impossible Creatures" by Katherine Rundell

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