What does brow mean?
Brow is an Old English noun with two principal meanings: the forehead — or more precisely the ridge of hair just above the eye, the eyebrow — and the crest or uppermost edge of a steep incline such as a hill or cliff. Though 'forehead' and 'eyebrow' are the ordinary modern terms, 'brow' survives in a number of vivid idioms: one wipes a sweaty brow after exertion, knits or furrows the brow in concentration or worry, and reaches the brow of a hill at the summit of a climb. These expressions lend the word a literary and slightly elevated tone, which is why it remains common in fiction and journalism even though it is rare in casual conversation. The plural 'brows' typically refers to a pair of eyebrows. Related derivatives include 'browbeat', meaning to intimidate someone with a stern or haughty look — literally, as if by a lowering of the brows — and 'browless'. A distant Germanic cousin is the verb 'browse', originally meaning to feed on shoots and buds.
The forehead, or the arch of hair above the eye (an eyebrow).
"A deep frown creased his brow as he read the letter."
Often used in set expressions such as 'a furrowed brow' or 'to wipe one's brow'; slightly literary in register.
The edge or top of a steep slope, hill, or cliff.
"They paused to catch their breath at the brow of the hill before beginning the descent."
The plural 'brows' most commonly refers to both eyebrows; when referring to foreheads it is rare except in poetic contexts.
"Her dark brows arched in surprise."
When you 'browse' the internet, you're using a word that literally traces back to the same root as your forehead.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of brow
Brow descends from the Old English brū, of Germanic origin, and has been in continuous use since the earliest records of the language. Its literal senses — the forehead and, by extension, the eyebrow — developed naturally within English. The figurative use for the crest of a hill arose from the visual resemblance between a rounded forehead and the smooth top of an eminence. Cognates appear in other Germanic languages; the verb 'browse' derives from the related Old French broust, ultimately of Germanic stock, making it a distant relative rather than a direct descendant.
Related word forms
How brow is actually used
In modern usage, 'brow' most often appears in fixed expressions like 'a furrowed brow' or 'wiping the brow', and it carries a slightly literary or formal register compared with the everyday words 'forehead' and 'eyebrow'. The geographical sense ('the brow of the hill') is more common in British English. The plural 'brows' usually refers specifically to eyebrows.
Easily confused with brow
'Browse' means to skim or graze casually, while 'brow' is a noun meaning the forehead or the top of a hill — they share ancient Germanic roots but have entirely different meanings.