Squint
SKWINT
/skwɪnt/
To look with eyes partly closed, often to sharpen focus or reduce bright light.
Usually an involuntary physical reaction to uncorrected blurriness, glare, or intense sunlight.
The story behind the word. Shortened from Middle English 'asquint' (cross-eyed, sideways). By the 16th century, it took on the broader physical meaning of narrowing the eyes to look obliquely or compensate for unclear vision.
Word relationships
- peer: To look narrowly or curiously without necessarily squeezing the eyelids together.
- blink: Opening and closing eyes rapidly rather than holding them partly closed.
- gape: To stare with eyes wide open.
Commonly confused with
- Strabismus: Strabismus is the clinical term for misaligned eyes, whereas squinting is narrowing the eyelids.
Word family
- squinters (noun): People who frequently squint.
Collocations
- squint at the screen
- squint against the sun
- squint in the dark
Example sentences
- "Without his reading glasses, he had to squint to decipher the tiny print on the medication bottle." Daily life
Memory hook
SQUINT your eyes when you SQUEEZE out light. Narrowing the eyelids.
When not to use
In British medical usage, 'squint' can also refer to strabismus (misaligned eyes), so ensure clarity.
Fun facts
- Squinting slightly alters the shape of the eye and reduces light scattering, temporarily improving focus.
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