eyebrow
Americannoun
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eyebrows
plural
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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
Other Word Forms
Noun Inflected Forms
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.
See Examples For:
“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
Ms. Wilson plays his wife, Suzie, with sharp edges and a raised eyebrow as she watches Ben and the others fall under Nick’s spell.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 4, 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
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
My sister raises one perfectly plucked eyebrow while Andre stammers.
From "South of Somewhere" by Kalena Miller
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
Manager Thomas Tuchel's squad selection in May raised a few eyebrows when he left out players who have featured regularly in tournament football for England - such as Harry Maguire.
From BBC ● Jul. 17, 2026
Still, the idea that the company has excess capacity at this stage of its AI cycle raises eyebrows.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 7, 2026
Christopher wondered for one mad moment if the answer could be eyebrows.
From "Impossible Creatures" by Katherine Rundell
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.
