eye
gb/ˈaɪ/ us/ˈaɪ/
A1
English
~ 300
szem, jó szeme van valamihez, érzéke van valamihez, a vihar szeme, méreget, szemügyre vesz
NOUN
A1
1
szem
A1
Usage pattern:
[someone]'s eye
She has green eyes like her mother.
Zöld szeme van, akárcsak az anyjának.
An insect's eye is very different from a human's eye.
Egy rovar szeme nagyon különbözik az emberi szemtől.
He covered his eyes from the bright light.
My eyes hurt after looking at the screen too long.
Learner examples
I have blue eyes.
Kék szemem van.
She closed her eyes.
Becsukta a szemét.
His eyes are big.
My eyes are tired.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse 'eye' with 'I' in writing because they sound the same.
Meaning
Organ for seeing
Collocations
brown eyes
|blue eyes
|close your eyes
|eye color
|eye contact
Synonyms
ocular organ (More technical; used in medical or scientific contexts.)
Antonyms
blindness (Refers to the state of not being able to see, the opposite of having a functioning eye.)
Themes
biology
|daily life
|body
|health
Definition
The part of the body that you use to see.
The organ in humans and many animals that detects light and allows sight.
NOUN
B1
2
Usage pattern:
an eye for [something]
She has a good eye for fashion.
Jó szeme van a divathoz.
You need an eye for detail to be a proofreader.
A korrektori munkához jó szem kell a részletek észrevételéhez.
He has an artist's eye.
Learner examples
She has an eye for art.
Jó szeme van a művészethez.
He has a good eye for color.
Jó szeme van a színekhez.
You need an eye for detail.
Common mistake:
Some learners think this means a literal physical eye, not a skill or talent.
Meaning
Ability to notice or judge
Collocations
an eye for detail
|a good eye
|keen eye
Synonyms
perception (Broader term for awareness through the senses, not limited to vision.)
Antonyms
inattention (Lack of noticing or focusing on details.)
Themes
skills
|art
|core_vocabulary
|education
Definition
The skill to see and understand details well.
A person's ability to notice, judge, or appreciate things, especially visually.
NOUN
B2
3
Usage pattern:
the eye of [a storm]
We passed through the eye of the hurricane.
Áthaladtunk a hurrikán szemén.
The ship was briefly in the storm's eye before the winds returned.
A hajó rövid időre a vihar szemébe került, mielőtt újra feltámadt a szél.
The eye of the cyclone is surprisingly peaceful.
Learner examples
The eye of the storm is calm.
A vihar szeme nyugodt.
We are in the eye of the hurricane.
A hurrikán szemében vagyunk.
The eye of the cyclone has no rain.
Common mistake:
Learners may think 'eye' here means vision organ; in weather it is metaphorical for center.
Meaning
Center of a storm
Collocations
storm's eye
|eye of the hurricane
Synonyms
storm center (More technical; refers to meteorological term for the central area of a storm.)
Antonyms
storm wall (The surrounding area of intense winds and rain in a hurricane.)
Themes
weather
|nature
Definition
The quiet center of a strong storm.
The calm area in the middle of a storm, especially a hurricane.
VERB
B2
4
méreget
B2
Usage pattern:
to eye [something/someone]
She eyed the cake hungrily.
Éhesen méregette a tortát.
The guard eyed him suspiciously.
Az őr gyanakodva méregette.
He eyed the car before making an offer.
Learner examples
He eyed the book on the table.
Szemügyre vette az asztalon lévő könyvet.
The cat eyed the mouse.
A macska méregette az egeret.
She eyed the dress in the shop window.
Common mistake:
Learners may confuse 'eye' as a verb with 'see'; 'eye' implies deliberate looking, often with emotion or intent.
Meaning
Look at closely or suspiciously
Collocations
eye suspiciously
|eye carefully
Synonyms
observe (More formal; can imply longer or more objective watching.)
Antonyms
ignore (To deliberately not look at or pay attention to something.)
Themes
daily life
|core_vocabulary
|communication
Definition
To look at someone or something with interest or care.
To look at someone or something carefully, often because you are interested, suspicious, or considering it.
Grammar
Dictionary form
eye
IPA
GB/ˈaɪ/
US/ˈaɪ/
Syllables & stress
eye (1 syllable)
Stress on 1st syllable (eye)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: eye
- Plural: eyes
Verb
- Base: eye
- 3rd Person Singular: eyes
- Present Participle: eyeing, eying
- Past: eyed
- Past Participle: eyed
Word family
Expressions
eye to eye (with someone)
1/ˈaɪ tə ˈaɪ wˈɪθ sˈʌmwˌʌn/
idiom
Agree fully with someone
To have the same opinion as someone else about something.
Examples
- We don't see eye to eye on politics.
- They finally saw eye to eye about how to run the business.
in the public eye
1/ˈɪn ðə pˈʌblɪk ˈaɪ/
idiom
Famous and watched by public
Famous and often seen or talked about by many people.
Examples
- Celebrities live their lives in the public eye.
- The politician has been in the public eye for decades.
the apple of someone's eye
1/ðə ˈæpəl əv sˈʌmwˌʌnz ˈaɪ/
idiom
literary
Most loved person or thing
A person or thing that someone loves very much.
Examples
- Her grandson is the apple of her eye.
- That dog is the apple of his eye.
catch someone's eye
1/kˈæt͡ʃ sˈʌmwˌʌnz ˈaɪ/
idiom
Attract visual attention briefly
To make someone notice you or something by sight for a short time.
Examples
- That bright shirt really caught my eye.
- That bright dress really caught my eye.
- A movement in the corner caught her eye.
- A movement outside the window caught her eye.
keep an eye on
1/kˈip ən ˈaɪ ˈɔn/
idiom
Watch carefully for safety/attention
To watch someone or something carefully to make sure they are safe or doing what they should.
Examples
- Can you keep an eye on the kids while I cook?
- Can you keep an eye on my bag while I go to the restroom?
- Please keep an eye on my bag while I'm away.
- Parents should keep an eye on their children at the park.
- She kept an eye on the soup while it was cooking.
keep an eye on
2/kˈip ən ˈaɪ ˈɔn/
idiom
watch or monitor
to watch someone or something carefully
Examples
- Can you keep an eye on my bag while I buy a ticket?
- Please keep an eye on the children in the garden.
- We need to keep an eye on costs this month.
Learner examples
- Could you keep an eye on my laptop for a minute?
- The doctor wants to keep an eye on my blood pressure.