eye contact
Americannoun
-
the act of looking directly into another's eyes.
We never made eye contact at any time during the interview.
-
Psychology. a meeting of the eyes of two persons, regarded as a meaningful nonverbal form of communication.
noun
Etymology
Origin of eye contact
First recorded in 1960–65
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.
There is often no eye contact during these casual exchanges.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 1, 2026
He stopped his car, walked towards the collision and saw his brother sitting in the BMW, adding they made "eye contact".
From BBC ● Jun. 8, 2026
He would then dive into his answers with a cool but intense eye contact.
From BBC ● May 21, 2026
Stunned but determined to stay professional, I quickly prepared his soup, served it without making eye contact, and stepped away.
From The Wall Street Journal ● May 7, 2026
She actually makes eye contact with me, dips her head, and mouths, Sorry.
From "A Place at the Table" by Saadia Faruqi and Laura Shovan
![]()
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.