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to squint

to squint

6 5.2
To cross your eyes on purpose to amuse someone
  • verb
  • /skwɪnt/
translation icon : bizquear
  • Hattie has a nervous condition that causes her to squint from time to time.

Examples

  • Amy, having just emerged onto the terrace, squints at him.

    Fiction book (1994)
  • It's just, the way you squint when you're nervous, it just reminds me of Sarah, that's all.

  • "Billie cocked her head and squinted her eyes, as if she could hear better that way.

    Fiction book (1991)
  • "Miss Fu Lam squinted at Kitty, wondering if her sister had come all this way just to die.

    Fiction book (1998)
  • Bobby's eyes were squinted, Bobby's mouth set in a frown.

    Fiction book (1996)
  • Hattie squinted at the bright sunlight, trying to see the path ahead.

  • Roger squinted to read the small print on the contract.

  • She often squints when looking at her phone screen in the dark.

Synonyms

to squinch
vsto squint
  • Archaic
1 9.9

To turn your eyes inward so they look crossed

covers deliberate crossing and real eye misalignment

Phrasal Verbs

13 5.3

To look with partly closed eyes because something is bright or hard to see

Compounds

Looking to one side in a way that shows doubt or envy

A person whose eyes do not line up and point in different directions

Surface Forms

squint infinitive
squinted past
squinted past participle
squinting present participle
squints third person singular

Etymology

Squint probably comes from an old sound-like word squin- that copies the small, sharp look you make when you narrow your eyes and turn them a little. So to squint (verb) can mean to cross your eyes or have them point in different directions.