# eyebrow

/ˈaɪˌbɹaʊ/ (US) · /ˈaɪbɹaʊ/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/eyebrow
Updated: 2026-08-08

## Senses

### 1. hair above the eye

noun · CEFR A2

the line of hair that grows on the bone above each of your eyes.

For teachers: the strip of hair growing on the ridge above the eye socket.

- She raised one eyebrow to show she was surprised by the news.
- The actor's thick, expressive eyebrows allowed him to convey a range of emotions without speaking a single word.

### 2. curved roof window

noun · CEFR C2 · Technical

a small, curved window that sticks out from a sloping roof.

For teachers: a low, curved dormer window built into the slope of a roof, resembling the shape of a human eyebrow.

- The old cottage had a charming eyebrow window in the attic.
- The architect specified an eyebrow dormer to provide ventilation to the loft while maintaining the fluid lines of the shingled roof.

### 3. to signal with the face

verb · CEFR C1 · Literary

to move your eyebrows to show someone what you are thinking.

For teachers: to communicate or signal meaning through the movement of the eyebrows.

- He eyebrowed his friend to suggest it was time to leave the party.
- The two conspirators eyebrowed each other across the dinner table, silently confirming their plan without alerting the other guests.

## Examples

- She raised one eyebrow in surprise.
- The makeup artist used a dark pencil to define the shape of the model's eyebrow.
- Subtle movements of the eyebrow can convey a wide range of human emotions, from skepticism and confusion to intense concentration or sudden recognition.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.