eyebrow

eyebrow — noun

1. the small curved strip of hair that grows on the ridge of skin just above each h

1.nounA2
Definition

the small curved strip of hair that grows on the ridge of skin just above each human eye

Example

Pim raised one eyebrow when he heard the unexpected announcement.

phrasal verb: raise an eyebrow — shows surprise or doubt

Liang carefully shaped his eyebrows with a small brush before the wedding dinner.

collocation: shape one's eyebrows — grooming context

Common collocations
  • raise your eyebrows
  • furrow your eyebrows / furrow your brow
  • arch an eyebrow
  • shape your eyebrows
  • pluck your eyebrows
  • thick eyebrows
  • bushy eyebrows
  • thin eyebrows
  • arched eyebrows
  • eyebrow pencil
  • eyebrow threading
Synonyms
  • brow

    more formal or literary; often used in phrases like 'mop his brow' or 'furrow his brow' rather than to refer to the hair itself

Grammar Patterns

usually plural: eyebrows

Usage Note

The plural form 'eyebrows' is far more common than the singular in everyday speech. People often mention eyebrows in contexts of facial expressions (raising, lowering, furrowing) and grooming (shaping, threading, waxing, tinting).

Common Mistakes

She raised her eyebrow at the rude comment.
She raised her eyebrows at the rude comment.
people typically raise both eyebrows together unless the context specifically describes only one.
Idioms

raise eyebrows (or raise a few eyebrows)

idiom

to cause surprise, shock, or disapproval among people by doing something unexpected or unusual

Faisal's decision to quit his job and travel the world raised eyebrows among his colleagues.

The singer's bold outfit at the awards ceremony raised a few eyebrows.

be up to your eyebrows in something

idiom

to have an extremely large amount of something to deal with, especially work or problems

Abigail was up to her eyebrows in exam revision and barely had time to sleep.

The small bakery was up to its eyebrows in orders during the holiday season.

raise your eyebrows (at something)

idiom

This means to express surprise or disapproval about something.

Maya raised her eyebrows when she saw the messy room.

Did Diego raise his eyebrows at your new haircut?

Word family

  • brow
    nounB1
  • eyebrow pencil
    nounB1
  • eyebrow threading
    nounB2

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

'Eyebrow' refers strictly to the short hairs growing in a strip above the eye. 'Brow' can mean the same thing in literary or formal contexts ('he wiped his brow with a handkerchief'), but more often refers to the forehead area or the ridge itself rather than the hair. 'Eyelash' is easily confused by beginners: eyelashes are the shorter, finer hairs that grow along the edge of the eyelid, not above the eye. Use 'eyebrow' for everyday grooming and expression talk ('she raised an eyebrow'), 'brow' for formal or dramatic descriptions ('a furrowed brow'), and 'eyelash' only for the lid-edge hairs.

eyebrow ↗broweyelash

Common collocations

Nouns

  • eyebrow pencil
  • eyebrow brush
  • eyebrow wax
  • eyebrow threading

Phrases

  • raise your eyebrows
  • furrow your eyebrows
  • arch an eyebrow
  • pluck your eyebrows
  • shape your eyebrows

Prepositions

  • above your eyebrow
  • over your eyebrow
  • between your eyebrows

Etymology

Old EnglishMiddle EnglishEnglish

'Eyebrow' comes from Old English 'ēagbrǣw', a combination of 'ēage' (eye) and 'brǣw' (eyelid or brow). Over centuries, the word was simplified into modern English 'eyebrow', keeping the original idea of the hair-covered ridge above the eye.