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eyeopener

American  
[ahy-oh-puh-ner] / ˈaɪˌoʊ pə nər /

noun

  1. an experience or disclosure that gives one a sudden realization or understanding.

    Her disclosures about her childhood were a real eyeopener.

  2. a drink of liquor taken early in the day and intended to wake a person up fully.


Etymology

Origin of eyeopener

An Americanism dating back to 1810–20; eye + opener


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:

The whole thing was surely an eyeopener for anyone not already familiar with them.

From BBC ● Jun. 15, 2026

I'm reading it now, and it is an eyeopener.

From New York Times ● Apr. 3, 2019

This trip was an eyeopener to American travelers who saw the statesman of the church riding in a plane break out his portable typewriter and vigorously go to work in midair.

From Time Magazine Archive

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