blink
Quick eyelid closure
To blink is to rapidly close and open the eyes in a very quick and usually involuntary manner.
This is in contrast to wink, which indicates the same but voluntary action.
Metaphorically, something that happens in the blink of an eye happens quickly.
A light that blinks goes on and off repeatedly.
Blinking may indicate nervousness, so if someone blinks or doesn’t blink, it’s a way of saying that they suffered, or did not suffer, a failure of courage.
Brief one-eyed closure
- squintPartly close eyes
- flutterRapid light movement
- batFlying mammal or sports club
- twitchInvoluntary muscular jerk
eyelid · lash · close · shut · rapid · slow · excessive · reflex
Briefest unit of time
- secondUnit smaller than minute
- flashBrief burst of light
- momentBrief period of time
- heartbeatRhythmic cardiac contraction
split-second · jiffy · nanosecond · fleeting · brief · quick · rapid · sudden
Sign revealing status
- flasherBlinking signal or pervert
- hazardSource of potential harm
- LEDSemiconductor that glows
- beaconGuiding light source
strobe · warning · taillight · dashboard · cursor · notification · standby · intermittent
Brief burst of light
- twinkleShine with flickering light
- glimmerFaint, wavering light
- sparkleEmit flashing light
- gleamFaint reflected light
shimmer · strobe · pulse · intermittent · on-off · stutter · waver · falter
Rejection of truth claims
- astonishmentIntense sudden wonder
- shockViolent sudden disturbance
- double-takeDelayed show of surprise
- stunnedShocked into speechlessness
incredulous · bewildered · dumbfounded · speechless · startled · goggle · stare · wide-eyed
wink
Brief one-eyed closure
twitch · eyelid · lash · close · shut · rapid · slow · excessive · reflex · corneal
instant
Briefest unit of time
heartbeat · split-second · jiffy · nanosecond · fleeting · brief · quick · rapid · sudden · glimpse
indicator
Sign revealing status
beacon · strobe · warning · taillight · dashboard · cursor · notification · standby · intermittent · pulse
flash
Brief burst of light
gleam · shimmer · strobe · pulse · intermittent · on-off · stutter · waver · falter · unstable
disbelief
Rejection of truth claims
- astonishmentIntense sudden wonder
- shockViolent sudden disturbance
- double-takeDelayed show of surprise
stunned · incredulous · bewildered · dumbfounded · speechless · startled · goggle · stare · wide-eyed · agape
overlook
Miss or commanding view
- visionsharp, eye, visual perception, sight, eyes
- eye movementsgaze, stare, glance, squint, wink
- reactionsreaction, response, gasp, wince, flinch
- reflexesreflex, reflexes, reflex action, reflex response, quick reflexes
- signalssignal, signals, signaling, sign, waved
- spellsspell, cast, conjure, curse, enchantment
blinkstand firm
Refuse to retreat
hold steady · resist · defy · confront · hold one's ground
- blink of an eyeExtremely brief duration
- blinked firstConceded in a standoff
- on the blinkIntermittently failing
- without blinking an eyeShowing no visible reaction
- blink firstConcede in confrontation
- blinking cursorFlashing text position marker
blinking, blinked, blinks, blinker, blinkers, unblinking, blinky, unblinkingly, eyeblink