eye
gb/ˈaɪ/ us/ˈaɪ/
A1
English
~ 300
Senses
0 senses
Noun
A1
entity
1
Organ for seeing
The part of the body that you use to see.
Usage pattern:
[someone]'s eye
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse 'eye' with 'I' in writing because they sound the same.
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.)
Collocations
brown eyes
|blue eyes
|close your eyes
|eye color
|eye contact
Themes
biology
|daily life
|body
|health
Examples
- She has green eyes like her mother.
- An insect's eye is very different from a human's eye.
- He covered his eyes from the bright light.
- My eyes hurt after looking at the screen too long.
Learner examples
- I have blue eyes.
- She closed her eyes.
- His eyes are big.
- My eyes are tired.
Noun
B1
entity
2
Ability to notice or judge
The skill to see and understand details well.
Usage pattern:
an eye for [something]
Common mistake:
Some learners think this means a literal physical eye, not a skill or talent.
Synonyms
perception (Broader term for awareness through the senses, not limited to vision.)
Antonyms
inattention (Lack of noticing or focusing on details.)
Collocations
an eye for detail
|a good eye
|keen eye
Themes
skills
|art
|core_vocabulary
|education
Examples
- She has a good eye for fashion.
- You need an eye for detail to be a proofreader.
- He has an artist's eye.
Learner examples
- She has an eye for art.
- He has a good eye for color.
- You need an eye for detail.
Noun
B2
entity
3
Center of a storm
The quiet center of a strong storm.
Usage pattern:
the eye of [a storm]
Common mistake:
Learners may think 'eye' here means vision organ; in weather it is metaphorical for center.
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.)
Collocations
storm's eye
|eye of the hurricane
Themes
weather
|nature
Examples
- We passed through the eye of the hurricane.
- The ship was briefly in the storm's eye before the winds returned.
- The eye of the cyclone is surprisingly peaceful.
Learner examples
- The eye of the storm is calm.
- We are in the eye of the hurricane.
- The eye of the cyclone has no rain.
Verb
B2
action
4
Look at closely or suspiciously
To look at someone or something with interest or care.
Usage pattern:
to eye [something/someone]
Common mistake:
Learners may confuse 'eye' as a verb with 'see'; 'eye' implies deliberate looking, often with emotion or intent.
Synonyms
observe (More formal; can imply longer or more objective watching.)
Antonyms
ignore (To deliberately not look at or pay attention to something.)
Collocations
eye suspiciously
|eye carefully
Themes
daily life
|core_vocabulary
|communication
Examples
- She eyed the cake hungrily.
- The guard eyed him suspiciously.
- He eyed the car before making an offer.
Learner examples
- He eyed the book on the table.
- The cat eyed the mouse.
- She eyed the dress in the shop window.
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.