eye widening
Expression of astonishment
Eye widening is when the eyes open wider than normal, typically as an involuntary response to surprise, shock, fear, or sudden interest.
The gesture signals heightened attention or emotional reaction: His eye widening told me he hadn't expected the news.
In writing, it's a common way to show a character's internal state through physical description.
- surpriseUnexpected event causing astonishment
- shockViolent sudden disturbance
- double takeDelayed reaction of surprise
- astonishmentIntense sudden wonder
- taken abackShocked into momentary confusion
gasp · sharp intake · startle · caught off guard · disbelief · amazement · deer in headlights · pupils · dilating · stare · gape · alarm · raised eyebrows · realization · horror · awe · wonder · jaw-dropping
eye wideningsquinting
Narrowing eyes to see
squint · eye closing · droopy eyes · sleepy eyes · blinking
eye wideningskeptical look
Facial expression conveying doubt
scowling · glowering · side-eye · stink-eye · cold stare
eye, eyes, eyed, eyeing, eyeless, eyelet, wide, widen, widened