Word
eyesight
Phoneticseye·sight, stress on the first syllable
US/ˈaɪˌsaɪt/
UK/ˈaɪsaɪt/
Uncountable noun
Definition
n. the ability to see. You use this word to talk about how well or how poorly your eyes work.
n. the faculty or power of seeing; visual acuity. Refers to the physiological ability to perceive light and form.
Examples
“She wears glasses because her eyesight is poor.”
“Regular check-ups are essential to ensure your eyesight remains sharp as you get older.”
“The pilot's exceptional eyesight allowed him to spot the landing strip through the dense fog long before the instruments confirmed their position.”
Examples
simple
“She wears glasses because her eyesight is poor.”
contextual
“Regular check-ups are essential to ensure your eyesight remains sharp as you get older.”
complex
“The pilot's exceptional eyesight allowed him to spot the landing strip through the dense fog long before the instruments confirmed their position.”
Usage
Typically used with qualitative adjectives such as 'good', 'poor', 'failing', or 'diminishing'.
Pitfall
He has a good eyesight
He has good eyesight
Eyesight is uncountable and does not take the indefinite article 'a'.
Etymology
From Middle English eiȝesiht, ieȝesihte, ehsihthe, eihsihthe, eȝhesihthe, equivalent to eye + sight.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
Related words
- 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.B1 PreliminaryIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.4.0–5.0TOEFL 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: 3.0–3.544–71TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.550–784
- Frequency
- Frequent
- Level
- B1 · Intermediate
- Updated
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