- a variation of lehr.
leer
1 Americanverb (used without object)
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leers,
present (3rd person singular)
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leered,
past participle, past
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leering
present participle
noun
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leers
plural
adjective
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having no burden or load.
-
faint for lack of food; hungry.
verb
noun
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
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leersimple
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leerssimple
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have leeredperfect
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has leeredperfect
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am leeringprogressive
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are leeringprogressive
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is leeringprogressive
-
have been leeringperfect progressive
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has been leeringperfect progressive
Past
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leeredsimple
-
had leeredperfect
-
was leeringprogressive
-
were leeringprogressive
-
had been leeringperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of leer1
First recorded in 1520–30; perhaps verb use of obsolete noun leer “cheek” ( Middle English leor, Old English hlēor; cognate with Old Norse hlȳr (plural))
Origin of leer2
before 1050; Middle English lere, Old English gelǣr; cognate with German leer empty
Explanation
A leer is an unpleasant facial expression. A leer means the person doesn't like you, or even worse, does — in a creepy way. Leer can also be used as a verb, meaning "to look at someone with a suggestive, rude, or contemptuous expression." Your sworn enemy might leer at you whenever you enter a room to express scorn and superiority. Leer derives from the Old English word hleor, meaning "the face or the cheek."
Vocabulary lists containing leer
Where the Red Fern Grows
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Where the Mountain Meets the Moon
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Warriors Don't Cry
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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:
My remarks moved an apoplectic plaintiff’s lawyer to point across the room at his opposing counsel, leer in my direction, and ask, “So are you accusing me of colluding with him?”
From Slate ● Jan. 13, 2026
He was similarly positive about the film's villain as Lyutsifer Safin, writing: "Rami Malek, with mottled skin, an all-seeing leer, and the caressing voice of a depraved monk, makes him a hypnotic creep."
From BBC ● Sep. 29, 2021
In focus groups, McCall’s advisers marveled at the kneejerk antipathy their opponent could generate — the pique, the entitlement, the smile that could slide into a kind of maniacal leer when it became too toothy.
From New York Times ● Apr. 13, 2021
This feminism is why I'm not particularly worried that this scene might read as permission to the men in the audience who want to leer at teen girls like creeps, which is always a concern.
From Salon ● Apr. 23, 2019
The beast seemed so untouchable up there, as though it would always and forever lord its death leer over the city.
From "Strange the Dreamer" by Laini Taylor
His tenor is white-hot, piercing through the orchestra, threatening to burst into flames as Hades, in his sleazy green leisure suit, leers at Eurydice and stretches the syllables of her name into a sinister design.
From Washington Post ● Nov. 24, 2021
There I sit as he leers a smile reserved for me, lecturing on the fine nuances of human behavior.
From The Guardian ● Apr. 17, 2018
He twinkles and leers with commendable grace, introducing his loyal cast of egocentric players as they take the stage to enact the story of love, betrayal and, just possibly, murder.
From New York Times ● Nov. 14, 2012
Mop-wigged Brent Hinkley romps, leers and honks a great Harpo.
From Seattle Times ● Jul. 19, 2012
“You know what my father always says, Todd Hewitt?” he leers up at me.
From "The Knife of Never Letting Go" by Patrick Ness
The home fans leered at every tackle and roared their men on, and the Edinburgh side responded well with a glut of first-half chances, but were profligate and hesitant in the final third.
From BBC ● Aug. 25, 2022
Or worse, he leered at it, encouraged it.
From Washington Post ● Apr. 5, 2021
Teachers leered at her: “You’re the girl who was dating G.M., aren’t you? I’ve read all his books. I’m a big fan.”
From New York Times ● Feb. 16, 2021
The cop walked up to us, leered at the camera’s LCD screen, and said, “Hey, that looks great!”
From Salon ● Jun. 6, 2019
The creature leered, as though it could hear his thoughts.
From "Beasts of Prey" by Ayana Gray
The final shot is one of the most foreboding in Hollywood history, with Nazis in uniform reflected in the cabaret’s distorted mirror, leering from the VIP seats at the front of the stage.
From Salon ● Jul. 13, 2025
So when Lal was promoted to Raiders receivers coach in 2009, he had a legend leering over his shoulder.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 1, 2024
There are T-shirts, phones, watches, furniture, clocks, slippers, tents, wallets, trading cards, eye shadow and roller skates with Garfield’s leering image.
From New York Times ● Jun. 7, 2024
He added it was a "privilege and honour" to be now playing the leering, flamboyant Emcee in "this incredible show".
From BBC ● Aug. 15, 2023
And he raised a yellow fingernail and picked at his front teeth, leering at Dumbledore.
From "Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince" by J.K. Rowling
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.
