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eyelid

American

[ahy-lid] / ˈaɪˌlɪd /

noun

the movable lid of skin that serves to cover and uncover the eyeball.

eyelid British

/ ˈaɪˌlɪd /

noun

either of the two muscular folds of skin that can be moved to cover the exposed portion of the eyeball
Also called: clamshell. aeronautics a set of movable parts at the rear of a jet engine that redirect the exhaust flow to assist braking during landing

"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 eyelid

Middle English word dating back to 1200–50; eye, lid

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.

Towns, meanwhile, suffered a nasty cut on his right eyelid when a drive to the rim ended in a clash of heads with Denver's Spencer Jones in the final minute of the first quarter.

From Barron's • Feb. 5, 2026

“Constant self-viewing makes eyelid heaviness and a chronically tired appearance far more noticeable,” he said.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 1, 2026

Increasingly, new cars are built to detect deviations from the lane or physiological markers of drowsiness—such as eyelid drooping—then alert drivers that it’s time for them to get off the road.

From Slate • Nov. 26, 2025

Within days her eyelid had drooped and swelled.

From BBC • Sep. 29, 2025

One eyelid struggled to open, then fell closed.

From "Homecoming" by Cynthia Voigt

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023