redeye

American  

[red-ahy] / ˈrɛdˌaɪ /

noun

• redeyes,
  plural
• redeye
  plural

1. any of several fishes having red eyes, as the rock bass.

2. red-eyed vireo.

3. Slang. Also red eye cheap, strong whiskey.

4. red-eye.

5. Military. Redeye, a shoulder-launched U.S. Army surface-to-air missile capable of destroying low-flying aircraft.

6. red-eye.

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adjective

1. red-eye.

redeye British  

/ ˈrɛdˌaɪ /

noun

1. slang inferior whiskey

2. slang a drink incorporating beer and tomato juice

3. another name for rudd

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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• redeye
  plural
• redeyes
  plural

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Etymology

Origin of redeye

First recorded in 1665–75; 1920–25, redeye for def. 3; red ¹ + eye

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Explanation

A redeye is an overnight airplane flight. If you're traveling to New York from Los Angeles, you could take a redeye that leaves at ten p.m. and arrives around seven a.m. Because they're crossing time zones and will lose several hours, travelers heading east sometimes choose to take a redeye. Theoretically, you can sleep on the plane during a redeye and be wide awake when you reach your destination. In reality, though, they're called redeyes for a reason: the red-rimmed eyes you have after an uncomfortable, sleepless night.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

redeye redeyes

United Airlines is cutting around 5% of planned flights, mainly targeting less-profitable redeye flights and midweek travel, and said it might need to raise ticket prices by 15% to 20%.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Apr. 23, 2026

Both species were once grouped together with redeye bass, but closer examination revealed clear differences in appearance.

From Science Daily ● Mar. 23, 2026

He homered in the second inning of the American League’s 3-2 loss on Tuesday night, then returned home on a redeye flight to be with his wife for the birth of their son.

From Washington Times ● Jul. 14, 2023

He had to take a redeye flight to Florida.

From Los Angeles Times ● Nov. 26, 2022

There were bass and black suckers, sunfish and catfish, to say nothing of the sweetest of all, the big-mouthed redeye.

From Children's Literature A Textbook of Sources for Teachers and Teacher-Training Classes by Erle Elsworth Clippinger

The number of excruciating flights and redeyes teams will have to take is unlike anything these players have ever experienced at a tournament.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 11, 2026

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