Word
bloodshot
Phoneticsblood·shot
UK/blˈʌdʃɒt/
Definition
adj. red with tiny lines of blood, usually about eyes that are tired, sick, or irritated. You use it when someone has not slept well or has been crying.
adj. reddened and streaked with dilated blood vessels, typically describing eyes irritated by fatigue, illness, allergy, or alcohol. Usually applied to eyes, either before the noun or after a linking verb.
Examples
“His eyes look red and bloodshot today.”
“After a long night of studying, she arrives with bloodshot eyes and a strong cup of coffee.”
“The driver stared through bloodshot eyes at the empty highway, the long hours behind the wheel written in every red line.”
Examples
simple
“His eyes look red and bloodshot today.”
contextual
“After a long night of studying, she arrives with bloodshot eyes and a strong cup of coffee.”
complex
“The driver stared through bloodshot eyes at the empty highway, the long hours behind the wheel written in every red line.”
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “bloodshot” in context.
Verb
01. become bloodshot
“His eyes become bloodshot whenever he has hay fever.”
verb + adj
02. leave bloodshot
“Chlorine from the pool had left his eyes bloodshot.”
verb + adj
03. look bloodshot
“You look exhausted - your eyes look completely bloodshot.”
verb + adj
04. make bloodshot
“Lack of sleep can make your eyes dry and bloodshot.”
verb + adj
Adjective
05. badly bloodshot
“Her eyes were badly bloodshot after crying all night.”
adv + adj
06. slightly bloodshot
“After the long flight, his eyes were slightly bloodshot from tiredness.”
adv + adj
Noun
07. bloodshot eyes
“He stared at the screen all night and woke up with bloodshot eyes.”
adj + noun
08. bloodshot stare
“He fixed me with a tired, bloodshot stare across the table.”
adj + noun
09. bloodshot from lack of sleep
“His eyes were bloodshot from lack of sleep before the exam.”
10. eyes red and bloodshot
“She had been crying; her eyes were red and bloodshot.”
11. stare through bloodshot eyes
“He stared through bloodshot eyes at the morning report.”
12. wake up with bloodshot eyes
“I woke up with bloodshot eyes after only three hours of sleep.”
Usage
Typically modifies 'eyes' or 'eye'; used both before the noun and after linking verbs.
Etymology
From blood + shot.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Synonyms
Word family
NOUN
ADJECTIVE
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B2 FirstIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.5.5–6.5TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 4.0–4.572–94TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.785–944
- Frequency
- Occasional
- Level
- B2 · Upper Intermediate
- Updated
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