What does eyelid mean?
An eyelid is one of the two thin, movable folds of skin and muscle that cover the front of the eye, opening and closing to protect the eyeball, spread moisture across its surface, and shield it from dust and bright light. Humans have an upper and a lower eyelid on each eye, and their rapid, involuntary movement — blinking — occurs many times each minute, keeping the eye lubricated and clear. Beyond anatomy, the word carries a well-established figurative use in expressions such as 'not batting an eyelid', which describes someone reacting to surprising news with complete composure. The word is neutral in register, appearing comfortably in both clinical writing and casual conversation. Its compounds and related forms — eyelashes, eyebrow — make it part of a small family of terms describing the features around the eye. Simple, concrete, and universally understood, 'eyelid' is a useful word for describing everything from fatigue and illness to calmness under pressure.
nounOne of the two movable folds of skin and muscle that cover and uncover the eyeball, protecting it and spreading tears across its surface.
- The movable fold of skin that covers and uncovers the eye.
- (Figurative) A minimal or grudging amount of attention or reaction, chiefly in 'without batting an eyelid'.
"She fought to keep her eyelids from drooping during the long lecture."
"The surgeon lifted her eyelid to examine the cornea beneath."
"He heard the shocking news without batting an eyelid."
Regular plural; both eyes have two lids each, so the plural is common when referring to a person's eyes generally, while the singular specifies one lid.
"His eyelids were swollen from lack of sleep."
You blink roughly 15–20 times a minute — meaning your eyelids are shut for about 30 minutes of every waking day.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of eyelid
Eyelid is a transparent compound of Old English 'ēage' (eye) and 'hlid' (lid, cover), formed from Germanic roots; the word 'lid' in this sense originally meant any covering. It developed naturally within English rather than being borrowed from Latin or Greek, though it corresponds to the Latinate medical term 'palpebra'. Cognates appear across the Germanic languages, reflecting shared ancestry rather than borrowing.
How eyelid is actually used
A straightforward anatomical term used in both medical and everyday registers. The plural 'eyelids' is standard; the singular is often used collectively ('her left eyelid twitched'). The figurative use appears mainly in the idiom 'not bat an eyelid' (British: 'eyelid'; American usage more often 'not bat an eye').
Easily confused with eyelid
An eyelid is the fold of skin that covers the eye, whereas an eyelash is one of the hairs growing on its edge.