creative writing eye description

How to Describe Eyes in Writing (21 Best Tips + Examples)

Eyes are often hailed as the “windows to the soul,” capable of conveying complex emotions without uttering a single word.

As writers, mastering the art of describing eyes can elevate your storytelling.

Here is how to describe eyes in writing:

Describe eyes in writing by focusing on color, shape, and emotional depth. Use descriptive words like “captivating” or “luminous.” Phrases like “windows to the soul” add layers. Consider eyelids, lashes, and blinking for subtle emotional cues.

In this guide, you’ll learn everything you need to know about how to describe eyes in writing.

1. The Color Palette: More Than Just Blue and Brown

Table of Contents

Color is usually the first attribute that comes to mind when describing eyes.

Going beyond the cliché blue and brown can bring your characters to life in vivid detail.

Try unconventional colors and make comparisons to set a mood.

For example, instead of saying, “She had green eyes,” you might say, “Her eyes were the color of freshly mown grass, evoking an undeniable feeling of rebirth.”

Different colors can invoke various emotions or suggest specific character traits.

“Eyes as gray as a stormy sea” could symbolize a tumultuous spirit or an adventurous soul.

Therefore, use colors not just as factual descriptions but as emotional or character-driven statements.

You can even mix colors for added depth, “His eyes were a mix of gold and brown, like a forest floor dappled in autumn sunlight.”

2. The Light Dance: Luminosity Unveiled

The way eyes catch light can describe more than just the setting sun or dim room.

It can tell your reader about the emotional landscape of your characters.

For example, eyes that “gleam like polished stones catching the midday sun” could portray a character in a state of clarity or revelation.

The luminosity of the eyes can also serve as a narrative device, enhancing the emotional undercurrents of a scene.

“Her eyes dimmed, mirroring the dwindling campfire, as she heard the sad tale” can infuse additional layers of emotion into the situation.

This can help the reader feel the gravity of the story along with the character.

3. Shape-Shifting: The Geometry of Gaze

The shape of a character’s eyes can be a playground for creativity.

From almond-shaped to round, the geometry of eyes can offer readers clues about a character’s disposition.

For instance, “Her oval eyes always had a dreamy look, as if she were perpetually lost in thought” can say a lot about the character’s daydreaming nature or thoughtful demeanor.

Don’t forget that eye shape can be dynamic, changing with emotional states or circumstances.

You might describe a normally cheerful character as having “eyes that narrowed into cold slivers when he heard the disparaging comment.”

This not only gives your characters depth but also builds a stronger emotional connection with the reader.

4. Blink Back the Emotions

Never underestimate the power of a blink in conveying emotional subtlety.

A quick blink can express surprise.

While slow, measured blinks could imply a character is deeply contemplating a decision.

For example, “She blinked rapidly, as if trying to ward off the tears that threatened to spill,” succinctly captures a moment of emotional vulnerability.

A single blink can also serve as a pivotal moment in the story.

“He blinked once, slowly, as if imprinting the scene onto his soul” not only adds emotional weight but also signals a significant moment.

5. Mirrors and Windows: Emotional Portals

Eyes can act as mirrors reflecting internal emotions or windows offering a glimpse into the soul.

A character’s gaze can speak volumes, revealing underlying feelings or thoughts.

“His eyes were impenetrable mirrors, reflecting nothing but deflecting everything,” suggests a stoic or guarded individual.

In contrast, eyes can serve as open windows, giving readers insight into a character’s emotional state.

“Her eyes were open windows to her joy, sparkling like stars on a clear night,” indirectly reveals the depth of her happiness.

Using this technique can convey complex emotions in a show-don’t-tell fashion.

6. Crinkles and Lines: The Etchings of Experience

The skin surrounding the eyes can be a treasure trove of storytelling.

Whether it’s laugh lines or weary creases, these “etchings” can reveal a character’s history or emotional state.

For example, “Her eyes were framed by lines that spoke of decades filled with laughter and resilience” provides a wealth of information about a character’s life experiences.

On the flip side, you can use the absence of these lines to highlight a different set of experiences or qualities.

“His eyes were alarmingly smooth, devoid of the wrinkles that often accompany age, as if time itself hesitated to mark him.”

This could signify a range of possibilities—from a sheltered life to a mysterious, age-defying character.

7. The Focus Factor: Where the Gaze Lands

Where a character focuses their eyes can indicate interest, discomfort, or even deceit.

“She couldn’t maintain eye contact and her gaze kept drifting to the floor,” could suggest a lack of confidence or that she’s hiding something.

Here’s another example: “His eyes locked onto the painting, absorbing every brushstroke as if trying to capture its essence.”

The focus of the gaze is telling of the character’s artistic interest.

Or perhaps a deeper emotional connection to the artwork.

Employ focus intentionally to add another layer of complexity to your characters.

8. The Invisible Force: Magnetic Attraction or Repulsion

Sometimes eyes don’t just look; they draw in or push away.

Describing this invisible force can add an ethereal quality to your characters.

“Her eyes seemed to pull him in, a gravitational force he couldn’t resist,” not only describes attraction but also gives it a nearly magical, irresistible quality.

Alternatively, eyes can repel, emitting an almost palpable energy that keeps people at bay.

“People avoided looking into his eyes, as if a simple glance could cast a dark shadow over their day.”

This can set the mood quickly and establish a character as menacing or tragically solitary.

9. Eye-talk: Silent Conversations

Eyes can often communicate messages that words fail to capture.

Describing these “silent conversations” can create emotionally charged scenes between characters.

For instance, “Their eyes met, and in that brief moment, a flurry of unspoken apologies and forgiveness exchanged.”

In a more humorous scenario, you might write, “A roll of her eyes spoke louder than words, a whole paragraph on why the joke was painfully unfunny.”

Use eye-talk to demonstrate the depth of understanding or the lack thereof between characters.

By doing so, you enrichen the personal dynamics in your story.

10. Motion and Emotion: The Kinetics of Eye Movement

The movement of eyes—darting, sweeping, flicking—can indicate a variety of emotions or thoughts.

“Her eyes darted around the room, like a hummingbird seeking nectar, but finding none,” could indicate anxiety or a feeling trapped.

Movement can also be slow and calculated: “His eyes slowly scanned the crowd until they landed on her. It was as though he had found what he was unconsciously searching for all evening.”

Here, the eyes act almost like a compass, guided by emotion or instinct to find a person in a crowd.

11. Veils and Shields: The Role of Eyelids and Lashes

Eyelids and eyelashes do more than just frame the eyes.

They act as veils or shields, expressing vulnerability or defense.

For example, “Her eyelashes were a curtain that she dropped quickly, hiding the turmoil that had briefly flickered in her eyes,” could indicate a momentary lapse in an otherwise strong facade.

On the other hand, “His eyelids lifted slowly, as if reluctantly allowing access to the secrets hidden in his gaze,” paints a vivid image of a guarded individual.

With eyelids acting as gatekeepers and eyelashes as intricate curtains, your description gains a theatrical quality.

12. Icy Stares and Fiery Glances: Temperature Imagery

Using temperature as imagery can add another layer of emotional context.

“Her gaze was icy, freezing everyone it touched, making even a crowded room feel lonely,” effectively conveys detachment and emotional coldness.

Alternatively, “His eyes burned with a fire that could ignite even the most dampened spirits,” suggests passion.

By assigning a “temperature” to your characters’ eyes, you’re doing more than describing.

You’re setting the emotional climate of your story.

13. Twin Moons: Symmetry and Asymmetry

Our eyes are often assumed to be symmetrical.

But describing a character with slightly asymmetrical eyes can add an interesting twist.

“Her right eye was noticeably larger than her left, as if it had seen more of the world and expanded with wisdom,” can introduce an element of uniqueness and intrigue.

Conversely, perfect symmetry can be used to highlight otherworldly beauty or artificiality.

“His eyes were symmetrically perfect, each a mirror image of the other, making him appear almost too flawless, like a sculpture.”

14. Distance and Depth: Proximity of Emotional Connection

The physical space between eyes can symbolize emotional distance or closeness.

“Her closely set eyes, like parallel lines that never meet, made it hard to decipher her emotions,” suggests a character who might be emotionally inaccessible.

On the flip side, consider: “His wide-set eyes seemed to embrace the world, absorbing its myriad colors and nuances.”

This description could indicate a more open, emotionally available individual.

The space between eyes can become a metaphorical playground for writers.

15. Transient Hues: Changing Colors

Some eyes change colors depending on the lighting or the character’s mood.

Describing this can add a mystical or unpredictable quality.

“Her eyes shifted from a deep blue to an oceanic green when she was lost in thought,” opens up a realm of questions and adds an element of unpredictability to the character.

Or you might write, “As he grew angrier, the brown of his eyes seemed to darken, like clouds gathering before a storm.”

Changing colors can make your character seem complex and intriguing, demanding the reader’s attention.

16. Windows or Walls: Transparency and Opacity

The eyes can be either transparent windows to the soul or impenetrable walls.

For example, “Looking into her eyes was like staring into a clear pond, where even the smallest pebble on the bottom was visible,” indicates transparency and vulnerability.

Contrastingly, “His eyes were like tinted windows—no matter how hard you looked, you couldn’t see inside.”

The latter communicates a sense of emotional fortification.

Transparency and opacity serve as tools to indicate how approachable or aloof a character is as a person.

17. Spotlighting: Single Eye Focus

Most descriptions involve both eyes, but focusing on just one can create an arresting image.

“Her left eye seemed to flicker with an inner light, commanding attention and distracting from her otherwise placid face,” can indicate a multifaceted character with hidden depths or asymmetrical qualities.

Or perhaps, “His right eye twitched involuntarily, belying the calm he otherwise projected.”

A focus on a single eye can serve to amplify emotion, make a character more memorable, or highlight an incongruity in their personality.

18. Eye Accessories: Glasses and Contacts

Glasses or contact lenses can be more than just functional.

They can offer insights into a character.

“Her thick glasses magnified her eyes to an impossible size, giving her an air of constant astonishment,” shows how glasses can be used to amplify a character trait.

Accessories become an extension of the character, revealing their choices, desires, or insecurities.

19. A Picture Is Worth a Thousand Words: Artistic Imagery

Sometimes, describing eyes as artworks can be exceptionally evocative.

“Her eyes were like a Jackson Pollock painting, a chaotic blend of colors that somehow made sense,” can indicate a complex and unpredictable character.

Or perhaps, “His eyes resembled a Van Gogh sky, swirling with depth and endless hues of blue and yellow.”

Artistic comparisons not only make the description more vivid.

But can also provide an intellectual backdrop to your character’s emotional landscape.

20. The Art of Avoidance: When Eyes Are Hidden

There can be significant impact in moments where a character’s eyes are hidden—by hair, a hat, or even their own hand.

“His eyes were obscured by a mess of unruly hair, as if he was deliberately hiding from the world,” can suggest a character who is emotionally unavailable or in a state of internal chaos.

Conversely, “She covered her eyes with a hand, as if blocking out the reality before her,” could indicate denial.

Or, perhaps, a reluctance to face the truth.

The absence or obstruction of eyes can speak volumes, adding a layer of complexity to the narrative.

21. The Blink Code: The Tempo of Eye Movement

The rhythm and tempo of blinking can subtly express a character’s emotional state or intentions.

Rapid blinking might reveal nervousness, excitement, or distress.

Slow, deliberate blinks could convey thoughtfulness or calm.

The blink can be as revealing as any other aspect of eye description, acting as a silent Morse code that conveys underlying emotional states.

For example, “Her eyelids shut tightly and reopened slowly, as though she was steeling herself for what was to come. Each blink seemed to be a word in a private language of courage.”

Here is a good video about how to describe eyes in writing:

10 Elements of Eyes to Describe in Writing

To summarize, here are 10 elements (or traits) of eyes that you can describe:

• Color : The most obvious characteristic, but it can say a lot about a character. Blues, browns, greens, and grays each have their own set of associated traits and emotions.
• Shape : The shape of the eyes can lend personality cues. Almond-shaped, round, or narrow eyes can make a character seem mysterious, innocent, or intense.
• Size : Describing the size of the eyes can also give hints about a character’s personality. Large eyes might convey innocence or openness, while small eyes could suggest cunning or secrecy.
• Luminosity/Brightness : How bright or dull the eyes appear can reflect the character’s emotional state or overall personality. Luminous eyes might signify vitality or a strong spirit.
• Transparency : This refers to how “readable” the eyes are. Are they the proverbial “window to the soul,” or are they more like impenetrable walls?
• Intensity : The power of a gaze can say a lot. An intense stare may show determination, while a lack of intensity could signal disinterest or fatigue.
• Texture : While not immediately visible from a distance, up close the eyes may have specks, flecks, or distinct patterns that could add uniqueness to a character.
• Direction : Where a character is looking—averting their gaze, staring straight ahead, or looking down—can show their emotional state and add context to dialogue and actions.
• Movement : This includes blinking, winking, or any other eye movements. Rapid blinking might indicate stress, while slow blinking could indicate thoughtfulness or calm.
• Surrounding Features : Eyebrows, eyelashes, and even the skin around the eyes can contribute to the overall impression. Bushy eyebrows, long lashes, or dark circles can add depth to your description.

30 Best Words to Describe Eyes in Writing

Here is a list of words to help you describe eyes in your stories:

• Melancholic
• Almond-shaped
• Calculating

30 Best Phrases to Describe Eyes in Writing

When a single word won’t do, you’ll need phrases for describing eyes.

Check out this curated list of phrases for how to describe eyes in writing:

• Eyes like saucers
• Windows to the soul
• A storm brewing in his eyes
• Eyes bright with unshed tears
• A twinkle in her eye
• Eyes darker than midnight
• Eyes that held galaxies
• Deep pools of emotion
• Eyes like open books
• Eyes narrowed in suspicion
• Eyes as cold as ice
• An unreadable gaze
• Pools of molten gold
• A piercing gaze
• Eyes dancing with mischief
• Eyes filled with wonder
• A guarded look
• Eyes aflame with passion
• A faraway look
• An inviting gaze
• Eyes shimmering like the ocean
• A gaze that could cut glass
• Eyes soft with compassion
• A lingering look
• A flirtatious glance
• Eyes clouded with doubt
• Eyes gleaming with intelligence
• An intense stare
• Eyes that defy description
• Eyes closed in contemplation

3 Full Examples of Describing Eyes in Different Genres

Let’s learn how to describe eyes in writing by looking at full examples in various fiction genres.

In the dimly lit room, his eyes caught hers, and it felt as though time stood still.

They were deep pools of chocolate, rich and warm, promising sweet secrets and hidden depths. A soft light seemed to emanate from them, casting a gentle glow that could melt the iciest of hearts. It was as though his soul was laid bare, and she felt herself drawn into his gaze, an irresistible force pulling her closer to the love she’d been seeking all her life.

As she walked through the enchanted forest, her eyes changed to mirror her surroundings.

Normally a plain brown, they turned into a swirling mix of emerald and gold, as if her irises were tiny galaxies with stars twinkling within. The transformation was spellbinding, making her appear not just of this realm, but a creature of otherworldly beauty.

Those eyes held power—power to unlock realms and unleash spells, a mysterious allure that could not be ignored.

His eyes were like shards of ice, a piercing blue that seemed to cut through the dim light of the interrogation room.

Each glance was calculated, devoid of emotion, revealing nothing yet seeing everything. It was a look that had unnerved many—a gaze that had stared down threats and seen horrors that would break most men.

His eyes were the epitome of a human lie detector, missing nothing, ever vigilant, and deeply unsettling.

Final Thoughts: How To Describe Eyes in Writing

The best way to describe eyes is blending the tips, words, and phrases.

Also, connect the bigger plot and theme to your eye descriptions.

Of course, there is much more than eyes to describe in your story. Read the other guides on our site to learn how to describe, people, places, and scenes in your story.

Read This Next:

• How to Describe a Greedy Person in Writing (21 Best Tips)
• How to Describe Nervousness in Writing (23 Tips + Examples)
• How to Describe a Hug in Writing (21 Best Tips + Examples)
• How to Describe a Smile in Writing (700 Ways & Examples)

65 Ways to Describe Sight and Eyes in Your Writing

Ever since William Shakespeare said:

“The Eyes are the window to your soul”

… people have been trying to decode ever glitter, wrinkle, squint, and gaze that passes from those orbs. When I read a description that catches my attention, I copy it down, using it later to remind me there’s more to a character’s eyes than ‘she looked’ or ‘his blue eyes’.

Here’s my list of 65 (and growing):

A note: These are for inspiration only . They can’t be copied because they’ve been pulled directly from an author’s copyrighted manuscript (intellectual property is immediately copyrighted when published).

• Eyed me as though his bullshit meter was ticking in the red zone.
• He blinked as his eyes adjusted.
• an alertness in the eyes, behind the glasses that sat crookedly on the nose
• Cold gaze fixed on the anxious young man
• Cast a skeptical eye
• Sure, we know that, said Herrera, taking off his glasses to inspect the lenses.
• Gaffan saw Marley’s eyes open wide in surprise and recognition.
• Eyes bleary from surveillance and the two-hour drive
• Vision narrowed to a pinprick
• Eyes clouded
• eyes locked on like magnets
• four pairs of eyes blinked in unison
• studied her with a predator’s unwavering attention
• blinked a couple of times

• eyes narrowed to slits
• Narrowed his eyes
• eyes locked in a shared understanding
• yellow rimmed eyes narrowing
• peer sightlessly at a wall
• eyes turned inward
• shook her head and stared at the pool
• Staring sightlessly into the darkness
• Stared off into the crowd but didn’t seem to see anything
• Stared into the distance
• Fixed expression
• Looked at a place somewhere over his shoulder
• focused on an empty space in the air between them
• eyes narrowed, she got a vertical wrinkle between her eyebrows. Her lips pursed slightly.
• Their eyes met, but he broke it off
• meaningful eye contact
• studied Hood with her level gaze
• risked a peek
• she screwed her eyes shut
• stared brazenly into her eyes
• opened her eyes wide
• dark eyes radiated a fierce, uncompromising intelligence
• rubbed raw eyes
• eyes felt scratchy and I was jittery with coffee and raw from sleeplessness.
• His eyes flickered past me.
• His eyes were never still and he never looked at me except in passing
• Caught her peeking at Hawk sideways out of a narrow corner of her right eye.
• Watching the bystanders from the edge of his vision
• Looked him over with the respect men who have not served give those who have

• Ferret-like eyes
• Dark eyes smoldering
• Lined from squinting into too many suns
• Eyes were dark pools of fear
• looked like hell—purple bags under her eyes,
• eyes carried a mixture of shock and barely contained anger
• bright eyes of an optimist
• one eye clouded with a cataract
• wounded eyes
• his body felt heavy
• eyes were dark, cupped by fleshy pouches
• wire-rimmed glasses
• Slate-blue eyes
• Dark solemn eyes
• Spark in his grey eyes
• Steely-eyed
• Huge blue eyes that gave her a startled look
• black circles beneath her eyes had become bruises
• Wide-spread aquamarine eyes
• brown eyes wearing reading glasses
• Piercing stare
• Close set black eyes
• Watery blue eyes
• Memorable only for his bleak eyes
• Nets of wrinkles at the corners of her eyes
• Eyes flat as little pebbles
• Steely eyed
• long eyelashes
• laughing eyes
• predatory eyes
• Eyes were red-rimmed from allergies
• Under heavy lids; heavy-lidded
• Sensitive brown eyes
• Eyes sunk into his sockets
• Competitive, fixed, dead-eyed, and querulous stare of people who weren’t getting far enough fast enough
• I’ve-seen-it-all eyes
• bedroom eyes, dark hair falling into them
• Crows feet radiated from corners of eyes
• the light fades from his eyes until they are dark and empty
• eyes were brown in the middle and bloodshot everywhere else
• stared through him
• Looked left and right before starting
• Pingponging his gaze between A and B
• His glance, as conspiratorial as a wink
•  eyes watched her the way a tiger watched a bunny
• Shadow passed over his eyes
• Flicker in his eyes
• Said without looking at him
• looked for a common theme, a thread of some sort
• She frowned–couldn’t recall the incident
• Heard little and cared less
• Hovering over her shoulder
• His eyes flattened
• His face hardened in concentration
• Thinking about my conversation with the old detective
• shot a look over the top of his glasses
• Squinted at the sun
• Arched an eye brow
• Looked at me with a strangled expression
• Bushy eyebrows
• eyebrows of white steel wool
• a single bushy bar above the eyes

More descriptors for writing:

Lots of them

48 Collections to Infuse Your Writing

What is a ‘Hacker’

Copyright ©2022 worddreams.wordpress.com – All rights reserved.

Jacqui Murray  is the author of the popular prehistoric fiction saga,  Man vs. Nature  which explores seminal events in man’s evolution one trilogy at a time. She is also the author of the  Rowe-Delamagente thrillers  and  Building a Midshipman , the story of her daughter’s journey from high school to United States Naval Academy .  Her non-fiction includes over a hundred books on integrating tech into education, reviews as an  Amazon Vine Voice ,  a columnist for  NEA Today , and a freelance journalist on tech ed topics. Look for her next prehistoric fiction,  Savage Land,  Winter 2024 .

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152 thoughts on “ 65 Ways to Describe Sight and Eyes in Your Writing ”

These tips would also help in writing better essays. Thankyou for sharing

Like Liked by 1 person

They would. Great suggestion.

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Pingback: 65 Ways to Describe Sight and Eyes in Your Writing – Nicole_6

So interesting!

Thank you! It’s easy to fall into the traditional color/size/that sort, but there is so much more to eyes than that. Which–of course–you understand, with your interest in music.

Thank you again for this wonderful reply 💝

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There is no copyright on most if not all of these. You may have copied them from a particular manuscript but the phrases themselves have been used thousands of times…”arched an eyebrow” , “Cast a skeptical eye” – c’mon…look at these phrases…they are all quite generic.

You are right–just an abundance of caution. Thanks, Vicki.

I think they’re pretty neat, Jacqui.

I absolutely love this list. Thank you so much. I’m always searching for lists. One of my favorite lists is finding words to use instead of said.

Glad you found it helpful!

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Jacqui, Can’t comment on just one post — I find something helpful in your posts on matter the subject. For now, the “eyes” have it. Thanks, also on commenting on my posts and for your regular blurbs. Mask up and enjoy the holidays.

I have quite a collection of masks these days! Thanks for the greetings, Nancy!

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Thanks for visiting.

Hi Jacqui, I just got your last book from Amazon and I started to read it. When the Thames is finished I will write about it, as promised. Joanna

Thank you, Joanna! I’d love that. But don’t rush. Your series on rivers is fascinating.

Very useful to many budding writers. Thank you, Jacqui, for your comments about the posts on my blog naturetails.blog I am back home from the hospital but still not very well. Nothing serious. Joanna

I’m so sorry to hear that, Gaby. It’s awful to be sick, especially now.

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Love this! Very helpful.

Thanks! Glad this was helpful.

Wow thanks!! These are worth remembering – or at least remembering where they are.

Pretty amazing how many ways there are to discuss ‘see’!

Reblogged this on Home – SFH and commented: This is such a good list for anyone need good sight words!

Thanks for sharing!

wow amazing list , Thank you for compiling it very useful to me !

I am so amazed by the creativity of writers. These really caught my attention.

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I will look at this list when I’m writing 🤔 my eyes would read. She looked through her red itchy eyes and decided he was a hunk. But what could she do about it at 61 and wrinkled skin. Go to Walmart for Gold Bond!

Like Liked by 2 people

Hehee. You and me both!

I think you are amazing with the wealth of words you provide.

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Just found this – these are great! My eyes are wide with admiration….

I see what you did there!

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Hi Jacqui, Thank you for liking my poem, I love writing poetry…and playing around with words::my passion! Add people and I’m made up! I enjoyed your lists and ideas; thank you.. To think there are only 26 letters in the English language. Isn’t it amazing what us writers do with them. Magic! Best wishes. xx

Well, Nature has us beat. Only 4 bases for DNA and look at all the variation. Yikes!

Thanks goes to you for promoting my work as a powerful Psychic spiritual healer in usa and for liking my blogs, let me live my number here +27634299958 whatsapp. THANKS

Like Liked by 3 people

Thanks for visiting me, too!

Love this! Thanks for taking time away from your writing to visit my blog!

Fun visit, Lily. I’m new to #authorstoolboxbloghop and am enjoying all the new writers I’m meeting!

I’m looking for some advice. I want to describe the look someone gives another person when the former is deliberately feigning interest in a way meant to convey mockery and contempt. I’ll try to give a brief example.

Person A says something person B finds ridiculous or uninteresting.

Person B, being a jerk, makes a sarcastic remark to the effect of “wow, how fascinating!” while giving person A a look that matches her attitude.

It’s all about body language…and the fact that it’s nearly 6 am and I am struggling to be descriptive! Thanks for your help.

Snide? Or dismissive? Or like you just stepped in a cow turd?

Hmm… Let’s see what anyone else has to offer!

some great ideas in this list Jacqui to stimulate the imagination. also, a good reminder about copyright 🙂

I’m pretty paranoid about copyrights. I’m perfectly happy paying for images rather than worrying they’re in the public domain.

exactly. i bought 5 images recently from shuttlestock. not very expensive.

Also technically you can’t copywriter a phrase you didn’t make up. “Narrowed his eyes” is on this list and I’m sure that’s been used thousands of times in manuscripts for many, many years. Copying a whole paragraph that a phrase is imbedded in is wrong, but using common phrases in your writing but putting it in your own context is not violating a copyright.

You’re absolutely right. Good to point this out!

“Eyed me as though his bullshit meter was ticking in the red zone.”. Awesome.

I’ve felt that way myself at times!

Seriously, this is a great list!

Great examples. You had me at the first one.

Yeah, I like that one too. It evokes some good mental images.

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This is excellent! Thanks.

Thanks! They are all quite authentic.

Thank you Jacqui! it was helpful..

I love hearing that, Vijaya.

This is a thorough and useful list, Jacqui. Thank you. 🙂 — Suzanne

I get a lot of inspiration from this one. Thanks, Patricia.

I love posts like this, Jacqui. They make me reach beyond the self-imposed limits of my little grey cells 🙂

Every time I prepare to write “he squinted” or “his ferret eyes”, I check this list. I can do so much more with eyes!

I’ve bookmarked it and will be using in the future 🙂

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Brilliant Jacqui thank you. The eyes are such a crucial element in connection with someone. Eyes meeting across a crowded room has been the start of many a wonderful romance…..

Thanks so much for sharing this post on your blog, Sally. It’s been fun hearing the feedback.

Pleasure Jacqui. x

Reblogged this on Viv Drewa – The Owl Lady .

Thanks for the reblog!

Reblogged this on Chris The Story Reading Ape's Blog .

Thanks for the reblog, Chris!

Welcome, Jacqui – great info 😃

It’s in august company on your blog.

THANK YOU, Jacqui ❤️

Reblogged this on Plaisted Publishing House and commented: Awesome writing tips for Sight and Eyes 🙂

Fantastic list, thank you!

My pleasure.

Excellent, Jacqui. Thanks for sharing.

These definitely inspire me when I get stuck. Thanks for visiting.

Haha! Love the 1st one, I have to use that on my hubby. LOLz

Oh yeah. I use it a lot on mine!

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Awesome write-up. I wonder if a person used some of these phrases in their own book or novel would it be considered plagiarism? I posted earlier but I wrote the wrong address.

It could be–and some of them are so outstanding, genre readers would recognize them for where they came from. Not worth the risk!

thanks for your response. But I think it depends. As I look over some of the words in sight, I already have them in my book and chances are some of the phrases are in other books. Phrases like “Eyes turned inwards”, “Looked him over”, “Blinks several times”, “Squinted into the crowd.” In my novel I used, “His eyes darted back and forth.” coming to find out that the phrase is used in over 15 other novels that I found and I am sure there are more. I’m sure there are probably other phrases that I use in some of these books as well. Can I call it plagiarism if I see phrases I used in my book?

I guess it depends on the complexity of the sentence.

You are right–those types of general phrasing is pretty much public domain. Good to point that out!

Thank you! This is perfect for when I’m sitting there thinking, ‘how should I say?’ which causes me to stop and think too long and uh-oh I wind up in the writer’s block zone!

Thanks exactly what it does for me, too. Inspiration.

Well, isn’t that thorough. i love the first one about the bullshit meter.

We’re so far beyond ‘beady eyes’ aren’t we?

This is so much help. Thank you.

My pleasure!

Wow, so many ways to describe and possibly we still have even more things the eyes express. Magical are the eyes, small organs with great power. Thanks miriam

That is true. I think that veil with just the eyes showing is a perfect example.

Reblogged this on lampmagician .

Thank you so much for sharing. Sometimes my thoughts gets stuck and I need something to give it a kick start. 🙂

That is exactly what these lists are for. Sometimes, I just read the dictionary, find great words that evoke an image that leads to a plot point. I love writing.

If only I had a photographic memory … as long as I didn’t have to sacrifice my busy, sometimes all over the place, creative mind. 😳

This was such a help. Thanks for sharing!

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Thank you so much! These will definitely help me in my writing!

Great writer tips. Thanks for your recent visit to my blog.

These are fun, aren’t they?

This has helped me so much! I always get stuck describing how characters ‘look’ at certain things. Thank you!

It’s amazing how many ways you can say the same thing. Glad you like these.

it was of great help for me.. beautifully expressed…

Thanks! And, I’m sure the cute dog doesn’t hurt it’s read-me value.

no it didn’t… rather its my favorite breed so its just an add on cuteness & more expressive 🙂

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Awesome list!! Thanks for sharing 😀

and a free cute dog picture–what could be better!

Excellent… Being language my second language you have no idea how this post helps me, dear Jacqui… Best wishes! Aquileana ⭐

I bet many of them seem quite odd to you. I’m highly impressed with your writing skills.

Exactly!… But I am learning with your post!… Oh and thank you, Jacqui!… I’d humbly say that I feel I have made considerable improvements! … Best wishes! Aquileana 😀

Reblogged this on quirkywritingcorner and commented: Can someone explain the copywrite law when it comes to using common phrases? I’ve used quite a few of these in my writing and even my nurse’s notes. I did not think using a common phrase would be considered infringement.

My old eyes can’t ‘see’ as much as your young ones and writing brain can Jacqui. You’ve given me so much great tips over the last couple of years, I wish I knew long time ago. These are the ones came at a critical juncture of my [nonsensical?] book. Thanks for your help Jaqui. Arun from over the pond.

I see your eyes laughing! Ah, you are the master of subtle humor, Arun.

You know, I’m always scratching my head and pulling at my hair trying to think of others ways to say “looked”. These will help. Thanks.

And ‘saw’. These aren’t like changing the tag, ‘he said’. They aren’t supposed to be invisible. Gee, it gets hard sometimes.

These are great. Eyes are so expressive and are a must to mention when writing.

They are. Shoulders, feet–they can be ignored, but not what’s communicated with eyes.

With this post Jacqui “The ayes have it”! You are such a great resource, thank you.

Fabulous as always, Jacqui. Thanks so much. Something to chew on. ❤

Chomp chomp!

Great post. I was reminded tonight how important expressive eyes are while watching the Voice.

Since so much of communication is the body, it makes sense we should be aware of what’s being said.

Thanks, Jacqui. This should prove very helpful.

So much more expressive, aren’t they?

Great tips! Thank you so much for sharing! Have a lovely week 🙂

Lots of ways to say, ‘he saw’, aren’t there?

Yes, quite! Thank you. Very useful tips 🙂

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How to describe eyes in a story: 7 simple tips

Learning how to describe eyes in a story without resorting to cliché helps set your writing apart from amateurish fiction. Many beginning authors over-rely on eye descriptions and eye color to create an impression of their characters. Here are 7 tips for talking about your characters’ eyes creatively:

• Post author By Bridget McNulty
• 16 Comments on How to describe eyes in a story: 7 simple tips

Learning how to describe eyes in a story without resorting to cliché helps set your writing apart from amateurish fiction. Describing eyes is a handy literary tool to show your character’s complex emotions. Many beginning authors over-rely on eye descriptions and eye color to create an impression of their characters. Here are 7 tips for to describe eyes in writing

How to write better eye descriptions:

• Avoid fixating on eye color.
• Make characters’ eyes contrasting or incongruous
• Use eye appearance or description, eg eye shape, to support story development
• Describe the eye area rather than just eye color
• Use eyes to communicate psychology
• Read examples of great eye descriptions from books
• Move beyond describing eyes in your story

Let’s unpack these ideas a little:

1. Avoid fixating on eye color

The color of a person’s eyes doesn’t tell us whether they are kind or cruel, an optimist or a pessimist. Often aspiring authors focus on the eyes more than anything else when describing characters. While this is a feature we notice (especially if a person has unusual, striking eyes), there are many other interesting facial features.

As an exercise, practice describing a character’s face . Describe their mouth, nose, brow, chin and ears. Find a simile or metaphor for each (e.g. ‘His mouth was a tight red knot.’)

One way to make eye description more interesting is to make characters’ eyes stand out in relation to character traits or other features:

2. Make characters’ eyes contrasting or incongruous

People’s appearances are often full of strange juxtapositions and contrasts. The man with the big, ruddy face might have small, delicate hands. One way to describe characters’ eyes effectively is to use them to create contrast. For example, a character who has a nervous temperament could have an intense, penetrating stare that one wouldn’t expect, given their nervous or avoidant behaviour. Or they might avoid eye contact altogether which can also be incongruous.

3. Use eye description to support story development

One reason descriptions of novel characters’ eyes sometimes reads as cliché is because authors describe eyes apropos of nothing. ‘She smiled and looked across at him with her emerald green eyes’ reads a little awkwardly because the character’s eye color is not particularly relevant. Drawing attention to it almost detracts from the key action here – the momentary connection between two characters.

However, you can use eye description effectively at key points of character development . For example, if a character witnesses a horrific scene, their eyes might seem vacant or otherwise haunted to passersby. In Dostoevsky’s Crime and Punishment , when the protagonist Raskolnikov comes to see an elderly pawnbroker at an unusual time, unarranged, Dostoevksy describes the pawnbroker’s eyes to reflect the changed conditions of their interaction and the woman’s awareness of this:

‘The door was as before opened a tiny crack, and again two sharp and suspicious eyes stared at him out of the darkness.’ ( Crime and Punishment , Chapter 7)

You could also use a character’s poor vision or a visual impairment as a plot point: perhaps because your character, the witness, has poor vision, it’s not clear if they were able to see the murderer properly. 

Use adjectives that describe how a character’s eyes look to support the tone and mood of a scene, drawing attention to story developments, as Dostoevsky does. Yet don’t over-rely on adjectives to create character impressions . Let actions and words speak too.

Master Character Description

Write better character description with the help of practical exercises and videos.

4. Describe the eye area rather than just eye color

To avoid clichéd eye descriptions, instead of describing color describe the eye area. For example, if there are bags or dark circles underneath a character’s eyes this conveys tiredness and/or anxiety. Eyes that are swollen, puffy or ringed with red indicate recent emotional distress. Narrowed eyes indicate hostility or suspicion. Half-closed eyes indicate drowsiness. Mischievous eyes can indicate a fun-loving person.

Describe the shape of the eye too: you could describe your character as having almond-shaped eyes, or hooded, or having a monolid (eyes that don’t have a crease), wrinkled, makeup smudged creating a panda-like effect. Eyes wide open could indicate innocence or naivety. Eyes aflame with passion conveys an entirely different range of emotions or state of being too. Take note of how eyes change in dim light, with the pupil growing big. You could just simply use a medical condition to describe eyes for example ptosis, which is an excessively droopy eyelid. 

When you get down to it, there are countless ways to describe eyes that show emotion and psychological state in addition to appearance. Make your eye descriptions do more work for your story.

5. Use eyes to communicate psychology

To follow on from the above point, think about how your eye descriptions create impressions about your characters’ temperaments and psychologies. For example, a character who blinks often might be a little nervous. On the other hand, a character who rolls her eyes often could be the cynical, ‘so over it right now’ teen. You could describe a compassionate person, let’s say a psychologist, as having warm brown eyes, for instance that look at other characters with interest and care. 

The important thing is not to overdo eye descriptions. If a character performs an eye movement such as rolling her eyes a few times it conveys her sarcastic nature. Yet if she does this every page, it can stale quickly. Use your discretion.

6. Read examples of great eye descriptions from books

It’s useful to keep a separate journal for character descriptions you love. That way, whenever you are trying to describe a character , you can page through effective descriptions and remind yourself what works.

Famous books are peppered with great eye descriptions. For example, in Crime and Punishment , Dostoevsky creates a suitably suspenseful and creepy tone when Raskolnikov’s family come to visit him at his lodgings and are watched suspiciously by the landlady as they enter:

‘[W]hen they reached the landlady’s door on the fourth storey, they noticed that her door was a tiny crack open and that two keen black eyes were watching them from the darkness within.’

The description is simple yet effective. The adjective ‘keen’ comes before the color ‘black’, as it should, being the more descriptive and informative of the two.

Although it’s not effective to simply describe eye color alone, many successful authors do describe eye color – even improbable colors as J.K. Rowling does when she describes the villain of Harry Potter , Lord Voldemort:

‘[His face was] whiter than a skull, with wide, livid scarlet eyes and a nose that was as flat as a snake’s with slits for nostrils’.

Rowling, like Dostoevsky, places the most important, emotion-conveying descriptor first. Even though Voldemort’s eyes are ‘scarlet’, a non-standard eye color, they are first described as ‘livid’, conveying immense anger appropriate to a villain.

7. Move beyond describing eyes in your story

To truly describe characters brilliantly, describe aspects of your character that are most relevant to a given scene. For example, if a character is fleeing the scene of a crime, their eye color is scarcely relevant here. But describing their body language (as they attempt to slip past passersby unnoticed) or breathing can heighten tension.

As important as it is to know how to describe eyes in a story without using cliché, it’s even more important to have rounded character description skills.

Join Now Novel to create detailed character sketches using our guided prompts. Get helpful feedback on your character descriptions from your online writing community.

Related Posts:

• How to describe clothing in a story (with examples)
• How do you describe a place? 6 setting tips
• How to create tension in a story: 8 simple steps
• Tags characterisation , describing characters , writing characters , writing tips

By Bridget McNulty

Bridget McNulty is a published author, content strategist, writer, editor and speaker. She is the co-founder of two non-profits: Sweet Life Diabetes Community, South Africa's largest online diabetes community, and the Diabetes Alliance, a coalition of all the organisations working in diabetes in South Africa. She is also the co-founder of Now Novel: an online novel-writing course where she coaches aspiring writers to start - and finish! - their novels. Bridget believes in the power of storytelling to create meaningful change.

16 replies on “How to describe eyes in a story: 7 simple tips”

Good advice on what it is the character is looking at. I have told my listeners to do something similar in the past. Always describe what it is that the character’s five senses are telling them. You don’t have to use all of them and the sense of sight is a powerful one.

Rick Dean/Poor Richard’s Bloganac

I agree. I think the idea of watching your metaphors is also a powerful one.

This is really nice!

Thanks James!

I also have a tip. I noticed that a lot of people overuse the color of peoples eyes. They talk about how ‘ocean blue they are’ and always somehow worm the color of there ‘dazzling eyes’ into the chapter, which can be annoying, and feel a little unrealistic. It’s okay for the character to recognize how strange or beautiful another character’s eyes are, but not if it is all the time. It gets old and makes the story a little boring when all you know about the other character is the color of there eyes.

Completely agree with this, Katherine. Many writers use this in the attempt to create a sense of intimacy but it can be very cliched.

This is, hands down, the best information I’ve found on this subject! Re-Blogging on http:www.rijanks.wordpress.com

Hi Jan – thank you so much, that’s very kind. Will share your re-blog.

I like the ideas in this blog post. They’re great.

Thanks, Linda! Thank you for reading.

I want to describe a person, that can manipulate water or bend it. ( in other words, I want to describe a person with water powers.) But I don’t know how to do it professionally and smoothly, since I am not aiming to write a little fairytale about a girl with magical powers, I am trying to make it descriptive and appropriately written out, which I am very much struggling to do. I am hoping you could help me out and give me suggestion, since your advice on how to describe this subject in writing really helped me, if any viewers can give me suggestion i would very, very much appreciate it to.

Hi Prasha, Happy New Year! Thank you for your question, it sounds an interesting character power. I would say try to focus on the exact, precise detail. For example, the visual qualities of the water (the droplets, the motion, the way it reflects the light), the way your character concentrates to manipulate it (or any specific words they say that are part of executing their power over water).

Precise and specific details that describe the exact phenomena taking place will help to put your reader in the scene – movement, colour, sound. This is more impactful than, for example, if you were to just write ‘She used her powers to summon water’ as this relies more on broad, abstract ideas.

Literally never in all my years of trying to write have I seen something that is not only so in-depth as far as THE HOW of describing character features, but also expressed in a way that is completely tangible and digestible. This is essentially THE post I’ve been looking for. Outstanding. Thank you so much. -Billy

Hi Billy, thank you! I’m glad you’re finding our articles helpful and that this answered what you were looking for. Thanks for reading our blog and taking time to leave feedback.

I have a character in a book I am writing and I want to know if this is ok. “She looked over At Annika with deep blue eyes that reflected power and magic. Some people even say she was almost killed for that when she was born” (magic is outlawed)

Hi Madelyn, thank you for sharing your extract from work in progress. There are good elements here. I would suggest finding phrases that tell (for example, ‘…that reflected power and magic…’) and replacing them with words that show more (what is it about her eyes specifically that ‘reflects power and magic’? Is it something eerie or unnatural/supernatural about their colour/shape/intensity/her stare?

Keep going and good luck!

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Eye Description Generator – Reveal over 70,000 eye description to make your character fascinating

Eyes are the windows to the soul, or so they say. If you’re looking for fresh ideas for the eye colour, shape, and mood of your character’s eyes, then try this eye description generator. Perfect to give inspiration to creative writers, be it for writing novels, short story or poetry. This tool generates character details to help with your book.

Welcome to the Eye Description Generator

As authors and writers, we’re always looking for new and interesting ways to describe our characters and keep our language fresh. This little tool will give you a jolt of inspiration, to picture your character and their appearance in a variety of different way.

Here you will find over 70,000 eye descriptions . Use these rich words to help discover new characters for your fiction. All you have to do is press refresh to get another description. Why not use these ideas to help write a new flash fiction?

Eyes description generator

With each random roll of the eye description generator, you will find something new. Some eyes descriptions will sound like fantasy, some like hot romance, others like cosy mystery. And yes, some will sound down right bizarre. It’s a computer, not an artist! Just quick Fresh again until you find the perfect pair of eyes.

Do you have any other fiction generators?

If you found this useful, you might also want to try the character generator , and the Six Word Wonder generator .

What is the eye description generator and how does it work?

The eye description generator takes words that describe a person or characters eyes and mixes them together in random, new ways. This can be the color, shape, mood or emotion seen in their eyes. You get a real sense of the looks of a new character to help with your creative prose. Writing is all about using details to create a world. Each description gives you new detail to help flesh out your character.

The tool has access to a database of eye descriptors and randomly throws them together. As a result, the appearance descriptions will sometimes seem odd or unhelpful. The best way is to keep refreshing the description until you find an eye description that works for your story or character.

Of course, you could just read a long list of adjectives, but this tool helps you look on words with fresh eyes.

If you are more stimulated by images, why not scroll through thousands of interesting eyes ?

What examples are there of output from the eye description generator?

Here’s a few examples of descriptions thrown up by the random, artificial intelligence of the eye description generator.

This character has long lashed, elephant grey eyes.

I love the poetic meeting of the long-lashed with elephant grey. Reminds we of Dumbo.

This character has shimmering, ice blue eyes.

What could be a better description of Daniel Craig’s eyes?

This character has sunken, concrete grey eyes.

The imagery of sunken concrete really gets me with this one. This strikes me as a heartless beast of a character.

This character has feline, chocolate brown eyes

Sounds like the lover in a particularly steamy romance

This character has squinty, fog grey eyes.

I immediately picture an old, confused granddad, working on some crazy inventions.

Should I just copy and paste one of these descriptions into my story?

You can take one of these descriptions and add it to your story. But… My recommendation is to look at many descriptions and cherry-pick your favourite elements. And use this to trigger other ideas about the type of character. With those eyes, what would their hair be like, or their personality. What about their age?

Are these descriptions from the eye description generator free to use?

Yes. Go for it. It’s great to receive credit or a link back if you enjoy using the tool. But the tool is completely free for you to enjoy.

List of 200 characters from the eye description generator.

To save you the trouble of hitting refresh, I’ve listed out two hundred different characters from the eye description generator and their eye descriptions.

Enough of the eye description generator – what’s next?

If you find an ideal description for you characters eyes, feel free to share it in the comments and what imagery it brings to your mind.

I have built a few other tools to help authors and writers bring new life to their stories. Enjoy them.

5 thoughts on “Eye Description Generator – Reveal over 70,000 eye description to make your character fascinating”

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This character has sorrowful, muddy brown eyes.

This character has bloodshot, red-raw eyes.

This character has penetrating, cork brown eyes.

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8 Ways to Describe Character Features in Writing

Written by MasterClass

Last updated: Sep 3, 2021 • 4 min read

A person's eyes can reveal a wide range of emotions. A simple gaze, a blank stare, or a narrow squint can all convey deep meaning. The expressive power of human eyes makes them the perfect literary tool for character development in fiction writing. Eyes can let a reader in on a secret, signal intent, or offer clues to a character’s mental state. Incorporating precise descriptions of characters’ eyes in your writing can provide deeper insights into the story.

24 Writing Prompts To Describe Eyes

Hey there, writers!

We’ve all been there.

You’ve crafted the perfect character, their wit sharp, their backstory tragic, but then you hit a wall.

Those soulful portals that can convey a universe of emotions with a single blink. But how do you put that into words?

With the help of these prompts.

Let’s check them out.

Writing Prompts To Describe Eyes

The Mirror of Souls : In a mystical land, there’s a belief that a person’s eyes are windows to their past lives. Your character has the rare ability to see these past lives reflected in the eyes of others, revealing secrets, ancient mysteries, and forgotten truths. The story unfolds as they meet someone whose eyes show a past life intertwined with theirs, hinting at a shared destiny. Write a story where your character navigates this revelation and the ensuing journey of discovery.

Eyes of the Storm : Your protagonist lives in a world where eye color changes with emotions. These color changes are not just cosmetic; they bestow certain powers or weaknesses depending on the emotion felt. Your character discovers they possess a unique eye color that appears only during the rarest and most intense emotions, granting them extraordinary abilities. Craft a narrative exploring how this discovery affects their life and the challenges they face.

The Gaze of Eternity : In a futuristic society, technology has advanced to the point where people can have their eyes replaced with cybernetic implants that grant various abilities, like seeing different spectrums, zooming in on distant objects, or even recording memories. Your main character, however, chooses to keep their natural eyes for personal reasons. Delve into a story that explores the implications of this choice in a tech-dominated world.

Eyes That Remember : Your character has the unique ability to remember everything they see in perfect detail. This photographic memory is both a blessing and a curse, as they struggle to cope with the onslaught of visual information and the secrets they inadvertently uncover. Write about how they navigate a world where they cannot forget a single sight.

The Color Thief : In a fantasy realm, there exists a creature that steals the colors from people’s eyes, rendering them colorblind. Your protagonist is afflicted by this curse and embarks on a quest to restore their sight. Along the way, they discover the deeper significance of the colors in their eyes, which are tied to their identity and power. Explore their journey to reclaim what they’ve lost and the lessons learned along the way.

Windows to Another World : Your protagonist has a peculiar condition: whenever they lock eyes with someone, they momentarily see through that person’s eyes, experiencing their thoughts and feelings. This ability brings both empathy and turmoil, as they are often overwhelmed by the emotions and secrets of others. Craft a tale about how they cope with this overwhelming gift and the connections they forge.

The Blind Seer : In a world where everyone relies heavily on visual cues, your main character is born blind. However, they possess an extraordinary gift of foresight, seeing future events in vivid detail. This paradoxical situation of a blind seer puts them in a unique position in their society. Write about the challenges and triumphs they experience as they navigate a world that underestimates their abilities.

Eclipsed Eyes : During a rare celestial event, your character gains the ability to see hidden truths and lies, but only when the event is occurring. As the next event approaches, they prepare to uncover a truth that has been haunting them for years, related to a personal mystery or a larger conspiracy. Delve into their preparation and the revelations that unfold under the celestial phenomenon.

The Lighthouse Eyes : In a coastal village shrouded in fog, there’s a legend of a person born every generation with lighthouse eyes. These eyes, glowing and guiding like beacons, can see through the thickest fog and darkness, leading lost souls to safety. Your character, born with this gift, faces the challenge of balancing a normal life with the duty of guiding ships and people through life’s metaphorical and literal fogs. Write a story exploring the burdens and joys of this unique responsibility.

Eyes of the Zodiac : In a world where eye color determines one’s alignment with a Zodiac sign, your character is born under a rare planetary alignment, giving them a unique eye color linked to all Zodiac signs. This grants them the ability to harness different powers and traits from each sign, but also brings uncertainty about their true identity. Delve into their journey of self-discovery and the challenges they face in a society governed by astrological norms.

The Unseen Spectrum : Imagine a character who can see colors beyond the normal spectrum, perceiving hues that no one else can. This ability allows them to uncover hidden messages and patterns in the world around them, leading to discoveries both wonderful and dangerous. Craft a narrative about how this extraordinary vision impacts their perception of the world and their place in it.

The Weaver of Visions : In a mystical land, your character has the rare ability to weave illusions and visions through their gaze. However, the more they use this power, the more their own vision fades, presenting a risk of eventual blindness. Write about the moral and emotional dilemmas they face as they choose when and how to use this gift.

The Shattered Sight : After a mysterious event, your character’s vision fractures, allowing them to see multiple timelines simultaneously. This fragmented sight reveals potential futures and pasts, but deciphering the truth among these possibilities is a daunting task. Explore their struggle to find reality in a sea of what could have been and what might be.

The Guardian’s Gaze : In a realm guarded by celestial beings, your character is chosen as a Guardian, bestowed with eyes that can detect any form of evil or corruption. This sacred duty requires them to be ever-vigilant, but the constant exposure to darkness takes a toll on their psyche. Write about their journey of upholding their duty while maintaining their own sanity and morality.

Echoes in the Iris : Your protagonist has a unique condition where their eyes change patterns based on the sounds they hear. These visual echoes create a beautiful, ever-changing tapestry in their eyes but also make them sensitive to the cacophony of the world. Delve into a story where they learn to navigate a world overwhelming both in sight and sound.

The Frost Gaze : In a world where winter reigns supreme, your character possesses eyes that can freeze anything they gaze upon. Initially seen as a curse, they learn to harness this power to protect their community from external threats. However, they must also confront the internal struggle of isolation due to their fearsome ability. Explore their journey towards finding a balance between fear and acceptance, both within themselves and from those around them.

The Ember Eyes : In a land ravaged by perpetual conflict, your character is born with ember eyes, which ignite into flames when witnessing injustice or falsehood. This gift compels them to seek and confront societal ills, but also makes them a target for those who wish to maintain the status quo. Write a story about their crusade for truth and the challenges they face in a world rife with deception.

Eyes of the Deep : Your protagonist is a deep-sea diver who discovers they can see in the darkest depths of the ocean without any artificial light. This ability unveils a hidden underwater world, filled with ancient secrets and unknown dangers. Craft a narrative exploring their underwater adventures and the mysteries they uncover in the abyss.

The Starlit Sight : In a realm where people’s eyes reflect the night sky they were born under, your character’s eyes are a tapestry of constellations, holding the power to navigate by the stars and predict celestial events. This unique connection to the cosmos brings both reverence and fear from others. Delve into their journey as they grapple with their connection to the universe and their place on Earth.

The Whispering Glance : Your character possesses eyes that can hear whispers, catching fragments of thoughts and secrets just by looking at someone. This ability opens doors to unsought truths and hidden desires, but also exposes them to unwanted knowledge and ethical dilemmas. Write about their struggle with the power of knowing too much and the choices they make with this information.

The Clockwork Eyes : Set in a steampunk world, your character has mechanical eyes, intricately designed with gears and cogs. These eyes grant enhanced vision, allowing them to see minute details and distant objects with clarity. However, they also require regular maintenance and are susceptible to malfunction. Explore the challenges and adventures they face in a world of machinery and innovation.

The Healing Gaze : In a world plagued by illness and injury, your character has the rare ability to heal with their sight. Their gaze can mend wounds and cure ailments, but each use drains their own vitality. Craft a tale about the moral implications of their gift and the decisions they face in choosing whom to heal.

The Doppelgänger Vision : Your protagonist can see people’s doppelgängers – spectral images of their alternate selves from different choices and paths. This ability unveils the complexities of destiny and free will, as they witness the multitude of lives one could lead. Write a story exploring the impact of this insight on their understanding of people and their own life decisions.

The Canvas Eyes : Your character’s eyes are like ever-changing canvases, reflecting their innermost thoughts and dreams in vivid, moving images. This rare condition makes them an object of fascination and fear, as their eyes reveal more than they intend. Delve into their journey of self-discovery and the challenges of living with such a transparent window into their soul.

Founder and Chief Content Curator @ Digital Phrases

I'm a writer, words are my superpower, and storytelling is my kryptonite.

20 of the Best Words to Describe Eyes, Windows to the Soul

By: Author Hiuyan Lam

Posted on Last updated: October 20, 2023

Categories Vocabulary Boosters

When writing or talking about eyes, you’re going to have to describe them because it is inevitable. Most people will stick to describing eyes by color, but that is positively boring and too common.

There are better words to describe eyes that you can use, and they are not too difficult to put into your writing. For your next writing assignment, you can use some of the following words to describe eyes below.

Words to describe eyes: for blue eyes

For green eyes

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  It doesn’t seem difficult at all to describe any color of eyes, and it shouldn’t be.   Whether you have a limited scope of English or a wide one, there are some simple words to describe eyes that you can use for a more detailed description of someone. You can use any of these examples above for inspiration.  

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Character Eye Descriptions: The Window to Your Story

By Sharla Rae, @SharlaWrites

Rather than using clichéd or common descriptions, why not use “explicit” eye descriptions to give your reader a real peek into a character’s psyche?

I’ll touch on eye color, movement, and appearance and, of course, I have some helpful lists to inspire ideas.

  Eye color

It’s a given that writers mention eye color as a character feature . Color can be mentioned every so often to remind readers what the character looks like. But! Don’t hit them over the head with it.

Besides using eye color as a facial feature it can sometimes be used to identify who is speaking especially if the color distinctive.

Blue eyes widened and she threw up both hands. “Now hold on a minute.” OR Her amber cat eyes narrowed. “xxxx”

A character might have plain old blue or brown eyes and that’s fine. But why not use color terms that say something about the character or what they’re thinking?

• Eyes like silver lightning: sharp, doesn’t miss a thing, spirited, quick-witted
• Gunmetal eyes: sounds like a lethal male, perhaps emotionless
• Glacial blue: Can suggest nationality, or cold personality, angry expression
• Milk chocolate eyes: sounds yummy, soft, warm
• Chips of emerald ice: sharp, cold heated
• Faded azure lace: an older person with blue eyes, lace suggests a woman, perhaps homey

Here’s a great eye color list that will help you describe “who” your character is. This is one of the best I’ve seen to date and includes pictures.

Want to know the most common and rare eye colors in the world? The following are listed from most common to least.

• Amber and Black [rank about even according to which resource you’re looking at]
• Red or Pink [mostly in albinos]

Just for fun here’s a website that tells you the meaning of the color of your eyes.

  Eye Appearance

  Eye appearance/shape isn’t too difficult to write — round, almond, bug-eyed, beady, sloe-eyed, hooded, upturned/cat, downturned etc. We might also include how the eyes are placed on the face: close-set, deep-set, monolid , protruding etc.

Certain eye conditions or disorders can affect eye appearance and are excellent descriptors. You may not want to use the scientific terms but the descriptions of the terms are also useful. See my list below.

Appearance also includes emotional expression and often involves the eyebrows.

Appearance frequently blurs lines with eye movement and more often than not demonstrates emotions and personality. You’ll see examples of this in the lists below.

Eye Movement

Is it just me, or do eye movements mess you up too?

No doubt you’ve heard or read something like: her eyes traveled/fell down the stairs where he stood.

The eyeballs rolled down the steps? Believe it or not, this is a common mistake. And yes as a newbie writer my crit group had a good laugh on me with such a mistake. Words like “gaze,” “visage,” “glance,” fixes the problem.

A tiresome descriptor for eye movement are the over-used look, looked and looking. If our eyes are open they are looking and it really doesn’t say much more than that. There’s nothing wrong with using look but never varying with more explicit substitutes is boring and causes echoes .

Try: gaze, glance, surveyed, glared, raked, searched, watched, scanned etc. You’ll find lots of these in the lists below. Notice, too, that some have very specific connotations.

As mentioned above, eyebrows are very much a part of eye movement and play an important part in expressing emotion. Blinking eyelashes show emotion too but at the risk of sounding silly, don’t overuse this one.

And now for my lists. These include eye movement, appearance/expression, disorders and conditions, eye parts and types of eyeglasses.

Anchored her attention on Angry gaze sliced Assessing Blinked owlishly Blinking with feigned innocence Brow furrowed as his mouth turned grim Brows knitted in a frown Bushy brows beetled Cocked a brow in surprise Dragged his hawkish gaze Drilled her with Eyed him demurely/boldly Eyes caressed Eyes crossed in exasperation Eyes retraced their path to Eyes rolled skyward Eyes wandered Flayed him with Focused on her lips Followed as the model passed Gawking at girls Gaze cruised her figure Gaze dipped to her Glance flickered Glanced sideways Glare traveled with unnerving thoroughness Glared daggers [overused] Inspected the cabin Inventoried his surroundings Lashes swept up and she blinked Leveled a glowering look Lingered over the script lines Lowered her eyes/opened Narrowed to crinkled slits One heavy brow slanted in strong disapproval Penetrating gaze probed Perusing the sea of faces in hopes of Plugged his eyes back into their sockets Pried her eyes off the hunk Probing visual caress Raked with disdain Searching the depths Shifted her angry glare to Shot him a disgusted glance Sighted out the corner of her eye Slammed her eyes shut and hummed the pain Squeezed his eyes shut and gritted his teeth Squinted Staring fixedly Strange pale eyes darted Studied with piercing scrutiny Subtle wink Swung her restless gaze Tracking the other man’s gaze Unglued her eyes from him Unrelenting stare Up went his brows Violet eyes strayed to the Watched until distance obscured Wrenched his gaze

Eye Expression and Appearance [Some of these cross over with Movement]

Moon-eyed Sloe-eyed Burned fanatically Devoured her beauty Eyes implored A look designed to peel his hide All-consuming Almond shaped Appraising glance Astute gaze Avid eyes attested to his quick wit Beady rat eyes Beseeching Bewildered Blazed like torches Boomerang brows like Ayatollah Khomeini’s Bright with age Bug-eyed Bulging with fright Chaotic, helter-skelter eyebrow—like his mind, unsystematic and fickle Cold/cool/chilly/icy/frigid Commanding visage Cross-eyed Crudely insulting stare Deep set beneath heavy black brows Disapproval gleamed in her eyes Dissatisfaction plowed his brow Disturbing smoke-hued Elliptical eyes with heavy lids Eyebrows like checkmarks Eyes all gooey with Eyes like a shark Feline eyes Flashed with gaiety/anger etc Flat black, dispassionate as bullets Frankly assessing Get a load of those blinkers Gleam of deviltry Glittering with Green flinty rocks Hallows of madness Hard as nails Heart-stopping eyes Held hostage by his eyes Intent and unwavering/riveted Irritated visage Liquid pools of Luminous glow of happiness Magnetic Mellow as the sky at sunset Narrowed to slits Nebulous gaze / unreadable New moon-shaped Penetrating blue of his eyes Possessed the power to make her Rheumy old eyes Sardonic/disdaining/skeptical/mocking Sharp with intelligence Slits for eyes Sliver of emotion in those cool eyes Sloped down at the corners like a sad pup Small evil eyes Sneaky close-set eyes So tired his eyeballs seemed to sag out Steeply arched brows Sunken in the head Sympathetic Tears of remorse flooded The dark mystery of his eyes Triangular brows/always surprised Twenty-twenty vision Veiled expression of Visionary eyes Visual exploration of Watery eyes Where did you get those peepers Wild and frightened Wore spectacles/glasses/winkers

Eye Disorders and Conditions [You might like this website ]

• Astigmatism : causes fuzzy or blurry vision due to irregular curve in eye lens or cornea.
• Gimlet-eyed : sharp and piercing
• Goggle-eyed : bulging, rolling or staring
• Megalophthalmic : unusually large eyes, often a congenital condition-think goldfish
• Strabismaic : eyes are not properly aligned. Sometimes Cross-eyed or walleyed
• Walleyed : eyes diverging instead of focusing simultaneously on the same point; eyes turned outward away from nose; also used to define a wild irrational staring, glare or fierce look
• Cross-eyed : converging strabismus, eyes turning toward the nose
• Diplopia : double vision
• Cataract : opacity of the lens of the eye, cloudy
• Glaucoma : hardening of the eyeball, often resulting in poor vision or blindness
• Leucoma : disease of the eye in which the cornea becomes white and opaque
• Pinkeye : highly contagious form of conjunctivitis-eye appears rimmed in pink, bloodshot, often swelled and sometimes full of pus.
• Nystagmic : eyeballs moving rapidly and involuntarily
• Ablepsia : lack of sight; blindness
• Farsightedness : ability to see objects at a distance more clearly than close objects
• Nearsighedness :(shortsightedness, myopia) see objects only at close distances
• Cornea : transparent covering of the iris that produces refraction needed to focus image on retinea
• Eye socket: hollow of bone in face holding eyeball
• Eyeball : globe of the eye
• Iris : colored circular muscle in front of eye that controls amount of light that enters the eye
• Retina : inner layer of the eye wall composed of nervous tissue stimulated by light to send impulses to the brain.
• Optic nerve : nerve that sends sight impulses from the eye to the brain
• Pupil : round contractile aperture in iris of eye, regulating light into the eye
• Vitreous humor : jelly-like material that fills eyeball and forms its shape
• Eye lashes : hair around the eyes

Eye Corrections [A good overview of modern lenses ]

Note: Although it’s not exactly known when eye glasses were first invented, they appear in a 1352 painting.

• Aviator : sunglasses with oversized lenses; associated with pilots
• Ben Franklins : glasses with small ellipitcal, octagonal or oblong lenses worn on the middle of the nose; in slang often referred to as granny glasses
• Bifocals : glasses having split lenses to improve both near and farsightedness
• Contact lenses : lenses worn directly on the eye
• Eyeglasses or spectacles or winkers : worn to correct vision; lenses set in frames that hook behind the ears
• Horn-rimmed : glasses with dark or mottled brown frames; frames are usually heavy
• Monocle: single lens used over eye for correction
• Lorgnettte : eyeglasses on a long handle
• Lorgnon : (French – pince-nez) eyeglasses that clip onto the nose; framless, circular lenses that set on the bridge of the nose
• Loupe:  magnifying glass generally held in the eye and used by jewlers

Now let’s have some fun. What are some of the funniest mistakes you’ve made with eye descriptions or eye movement? What is your biggest pet peeve?

About Sharla

When she’s not writing and researching ways to bedevil her book characters, Sharla enjoys collecting authentically costumed dolls from all over the world, traveling (to seek more dolls!), and reading tons of books. You can find Sharla here at Writers In The Storm or on Twitter at @SharlaWrites .

eye photo credit: Brittany Greene via photopin cc

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59 responses to character eye descriptions: the window to your story.

That was great! Thanks for all the information!!!

Great, Sharla – This helps. I have to remind myself though, not to overuse ‘eyes’. Better to intersperse other body movements to express emotion as well, or my scene gets boring….and I run out of terms! Hard to write fresh with ‘eyes’ – it’s all been done!

STELLAR list, Sharla. This goes in my “keepers” email folder for when my brain goes AWOL on eye descriptors. Thanks!

Thanks Gloria. Glad you dropped by.

Great reminders. I am annoyed by the ‘moving eyes’ too.

Yes, it’s easy to echo just the word eyes. I’m glad you brought that up!

Reblogged this on Daphodill's Garden and commented: Great tips to expand on eye descriptors.

Thanks for the Reblog!

Perfect timing with this wonderful information! I’m deep into revisions and looking for fresh ways to show emotions, using both eyes and body language. One question. If eyes can’t travel or fall, how do they caress? 😉

A character’s eye expression can soften and the gaze can caress.

Brilliant advice, thanks for sharing 🙂

Great post, Sharla!

Another great post…bookmarking it! The “eyes” have it…best blog and writers ever!

Thanks. I almost used The Eyes Have It as a title. 🙂

Great minds, and all that, Sharla.

Awww…thanks a bunch! This comment is a great way to start my day. 🙂

Great post! Thank you. This will take our manuscripts from dull to delicious. =)

Thanks stopping by Sally!

Great collection of eye-related description. 🙂 As long as a person doesn’t use the eyes too often to describe, this can be powerful. It’s an easy area to overuse, especially with emotion.

True. Too much of a good thing is never good.

Terrific post! So many things to remember. I smiled at your dropping body parts. A writing instructor long ago made fun of those things–Like you, he pointed out eyes–and heads–that drop a lot. Thanks for the great lists. Tweeted/shared.

Thanks Barb. The body parts thing is always touchy. A time or two I’ve read where an author forgot that both arms were already occupied and wrote in a third arm accidentally.

Reblogged this on jbiggarblog .

Thanks for the reblog!

Great list Sharla Rae, sometimes I get stuck on watched, gazed, searched. Nice to see som many great options, 🙂 I reblogged so I could save this list

This is a keeper! Lord, I love lists!! Thanks for the great post.

I love lists to Barb. Glad you enjoyed these.

This was great Sharla! Lovely of you to take the time to write all this down for everyone. Very helpful. Goes on my blog keeper shelf. 🙂

Thanks Kathleen. I love lists for brainstorming ideas.

Bookmarking this! I have such a hard time describing eyes and eye movement. Thanks.

It’s funny. Eyes and their movement sounds like it should be easy but really not, esp. when you want to show more than just the obvious. Thanks for Laurie for stopping by.

Thanks for sharing! This is most definitely going to come in handy when I have a brain-freeze.

I hate brain freeze’s because most of the time I’m not even eating yummy ice cream when they happen. 🙂

Sharla, you never fail to provide us with amazing lists of alternatives to the ho-hum. Thanks, this is another keeper 🙂

Welcome. I’m knocking around for another list already.

This is such a great article. And the lists are fantastic. Thanks!

Thanks for stopping by Veronica.

You are so the queen of lists, Sharla. And all are awesome. I’m saving this with the others. Thanks so much for sharing. I’ll do the same.

Really eye-opening post. Nicely done. Thanks.

Your welcome and do share! It’s the best way we writers can help each other.

Fantastic post.

Great post. I’m saving this. Would you mind if I reblogged it on Everybody Needs A Little Romance next Friday?

Stephanie, I’d be honored if you reblogged it. Thanks!

Thanks for this informative post on eyes! It’s a keeper!

Hands down (!) the most comprehensive discussion of this topic anywhere. I wrote an “eye moment” just last night. Now I’m inspired to go back and punch it up.

Thanks Eric. Sometimes I wonder about myself and my lists so this kind of comment makes it all worth while. 🙂

Great post. It’s a keeper. Thank you!

What a wonderful resource. I’ve shared with my writer’s group. LOVE it.

I would add, some other eye accessories, too, like: Sunglasses Cheaters Shades Sunnies Glares Specks

~ Tam Francis ~ http://www.girlinthejitterbugdress.com

This is a wonderful, unusual and very useful post. Thanks so much. My characters seem to glance and gaze a lot too much for my liking (they’re far too nosy) so it’s great to have your lists.

I really needed this. Thanks for posting it. I always run out of other ways to say “glance” and “look.”

Reblogged this on Jo Grafford and commented: Fabulous article about writing descriptions of eyes and eye movement. Enjoy! –Jo

Thanks Jo for the reblog! We love’em. 🙂

That’s an excellent resource, thank you so much for sharing!

Referring to eye movements, I know that, technically speaking, you have to use words like gaze instead of eyes, but personally I don’t mind that. I doubt any reader would be confused by it, so I’m quite flexible about it. I do know, however, that it’s many a writer’s pet hate.

Thanks again for the great post! Bookmarked and shared. 🙂

Reblogged this on Nicholas C. Rossis and commented: One of the best resources on eyes, looks and gazes. Must-read!

Absolute treasures….

Reblogged this on theowlladyblog .

Reblogged this on MARSocial Author Business Enhancement Interviews .

Fabulous and informative post. 🙂

Comments are closed.

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Best Ways To Describe Eye Color In Writing

Eyes are the windows to the soul. A common saying and in day-to-day life, we have learned to not discern a person’s personality or quirks based on their eye color. However, when we are writing, there is a lot more freedom. And eye color is a great way to define your character, give the reader hints about their characteristics or journey within your story.

The selection to choose from is also greater in writing than in eye colors that occur naturally. Purple eyes? Red eyes? No problem!

Let’s have a look at how we can express different eye colors even better than just name-dropping the color.

Best Terms for Black Eyes

Black is an eye color chosen for people that are supposed to seem more secretive and mysterious. A character with black eyes can be very passionate and deep, loyal and intuitive. It’s also often an expression of a very powerful (sometimes hidden) energy.

In a negative context, they can make a character appear non-trustworthy, insect- or reptile-like, and downright evil. Characters with black eyes often have sinister intentions or something to hide.

To vary the description of black eyes you can use the following terms:

• coal (black)
• pitch black
• velvety black

Best Terms for Blue Eyes

Blue eyes are quite common in most newborns, however, it often changes within 2 weeks after birth. This has lead to blue eyes being associated with youth and youthfulness, and innocence. People with blue eyes are usually described as calm and peaceful. They seem to be especially attractive to other characters, too.

In a more negative context, a character with this eye color can literally be blue-eyed, detached from reality, gullible, or even stupid.

Instead of just writing “blue eyes”, try one of these:

• arctic blue
• electric blue

Best Terms for Brown Eyes

Brown is the most common eye color worldwide. Brown-eyed characters are often self-confident and independent, strong and determined. They are seen as trustworthy by other characters, and as exuding an air of warmth and security.

On the other hand, a brown-eyed character can appear brutish or simple, boring, and even dumb.

There are many wonderful tones of brown you can use, such as:

Best Terms for Gray Eyes

Gray eyes are usually reserved for older characters. But they can also express wisdom and gentleness in younger characters. Usually, these characters appear to be sensitive and analytically.

On the less favorable side, gray-eyed characters are seen as bland and boring.

Consider the following descriptions when a character has gray eyes:

• cloudy (gray)

Best Terms for Green Eyes

Usually, green eyes are seen as mysterious and given to characters that are close to nature. They are often described as curious, passionate, and generally positive and happy.

On the darker side, they are linked to jealousy or representing poison.

Different green hues can be used to describe green eyes:

• forest green
• olive (green)

Best Terms for Other Eye Colors

Eyes that show both green and brown color are commonly called hazel eyes. People with hazel eyes are seen as spontaneous, adventurous, and competitive. The two-toned quality can also indicate mood swings, however.

Shows the eye more green color, the character can appear more mischievous. If the color leans more towards the brown side, the character appears more approachable.

Red eyes usually don’t occur naturally in humans, except for in albinism. Thus, it’s more of a fantasy color. In animals, it’s more frequent. Red eyes are often associated with courage, strength, ambition, and power. However, it’s also used to express rage and anger, a lust for revenge, and associated with dark intentions and evil.

Depending on what you want to use it for, the following terms can be used for red eyes:

Violet Eyes

Purple or violet eyes are extremely (!) rare. Thus, they fit more into a fantasy context – or if your character is using contacts. A very sophisticated and spiritual color, characters with violet eyes are often associated with royalty and riches, or divination and clairvoyance. Since it’s a very powerful color, this eye color is often used for leaders, royals, or oracles, and witches.

The following terms can be used for eyes of this color:

• ultramarine

Usually, white eyes are considered blind. A character’s eyes turn white or are white if they are not able to see out of them (or one of them) anymore. The limitation here, however, is only measured by your creativity.

Instead of “white”, you can also use these terms:

Yellow Eyes

In animals, a yellow eye-color is quite common. Consider cats, dogs, predator birds, snakes, and the like. Thus, characters with yellow eyes are often associated or compared to a certain animal, taking over their features or characteristics.

There are a few nice term you can use to describe yellow eyes:

Heterochromia

Of course, you have the option to give your characters two differently colored eyes. While this occurs in the natural world, heterochromia is still rare in humans. It can be used to express a duality in a person’s character. Often, these characters are seen as especially significant, mystical, magical, supernatural, or simply special.

See, that’s what the app is perfect for.

WNQ writers | @wordsnquotes

Detailed writing tips on how to describe eyes.

Originally posted by ifeelperry

Dear poets and aspiring novel writers, we’ve all heard the cliche, “eyes are the window to the soul.” They are one of the most important features and characteristics when describing a former lover in a  poem to ignite passion within the reader or to portray the beauty and fire of your protagonist in your story. Now you won’t need an online writing course with these tips. 

Besides using eye color as a facial feature it can sometimes be used to identify who is speaking especially if the color distinctive.

Blue eyes widened and she threw up both hands. “Now hold on a minute.” OR Her amber cat eyes narrowed. “xxxx”

A character might have plain old blue or brown eyes and that’s fine. But why not use color terms that say something about the character or what they’re thinking?

• Eyes like silver lightning: sharp, doesn’t miss a thing, spirited, quick-witted
• Gunmetal eyes: sounds like a lethal male, perhaps emotionless
• Glacial blue: Can suggest nationality, or cold personality, angry expression
• Milk chocolate eyes: sounds yummy, soft, warm
• Chips of emerald ice: sharp, cold heated
• Faded azure lace: an older person with blue eyes, lace suggests a woman, perhaps homey

Here’s a great eye color list that will help you describe “who” your character is. This is one of the best I’ve seen to date and includes pictures.

Want to know the most common and rare eye colors in the world? The following are listed from most common to least.

• Amber and Black [rank about even according to which resource you’re looking at]
• Red or Pink [mostly in albinos]

Just for fun here’s a website that tells you the meaning of the color of your eyes.

Eye Appearance

Eye appearance/shape isn’t too difficult to write — round, almond, bug-eyed, beady, sloe-eyed, hooded, upturned/cat, downturned etc. We might also include how the eyes are placed on the face: close-set, deep-set, monolid , protruding etc.

Certain eye conditions or disorders can affect eye appearance and are excellent descriptors. You may not want to use the scientific terms but the descriptions of the terms are also useful. See my list below.

Appearance also includes emotional expression and often involves the eyebrows.

Appearance frequently blurs lines with eye movement and more often than not demonstrates emotions and personality. You’ll see examples of this in the lists below.

Eye Movement

Is it just me, or do eye movements mess you up too?

No doubt you’ve heard or read something like: her eyes traveled/fell down the stairs where he stood.

The eyeballs rolled down the steps? Believe it or not, this is a common mistake. And yes as a newbie writer my crit group had a good laugh on me with such a mistake. Words like “gaze,” “visage,” “glance,” fixes the problem.

A tiresome descriptor for eye movement are the over-used look, looked and looking. If our eyes are open they are looking and it really doesn’t say much more than that. There’s nothing wrong with using look but never varying with more explicit substitutes is boring and causes echoes .

Try: gaze, glance, surveyed, glared, raked, searched, watched, scanned etc. You’ll find lots of these in the lists below. Notice, too, that some have very specific connotations.

As mentioned above, eyebrows are very much a part of eye movement and play an important part in expressing emotion. Blinking eyelashes show emotion too but at the risk of sounding silly, don’t overuse this one.

And now for my lists. These include eye movement, appearance/expression, disorders and conditions, eye parts and types of eyeglasses.

Anchored her attention on Angry gaze sliced Assessing Blinked owlishly Blinking with feigned innocence Brow furrowed as his mouth turned grim Brows knitted in a frown Bushy brows beetled Cocked a brow in surprise Dragged his hawkish gaze Drilled her with Eyed him demurely/boldly Eyes caressed Eyes crossed in exasperation Eyes retraced their path to Eyes rolled skyward Eyes wandered Flayed him with Focused on her lips Followed as the model passed Gawking at girls Gaze cruised her figure Gaze dipped to her Glance flickered Glanced sideways Glare traveled with unnerving thoroughness Glared daggers [overused] Inspected the cabin Inventoried his surroundings Lashes swept up and she blinked Leveled a glowering look Lingered over the script lines Lowered her eyes/opened Narrowed to crinkled slits One heavy brow slanted in strong disapproval Penetrating gaze probed Perusing the sea of faces in hopes of Plugged his eyes back into their sockets Pried her eyes off the hunk Probing visual caress Raked with disdain Searching the depths Shifted her angry glare to Shot him a disgusted glance Sighted out the corner of her eye Slammed her eyes shut and hummed the pain Squeezed his eyes shut and gritted his teeth Squinted Staring fixedly Strange pale eyes darted Studied with piercing scrutiny Subtle wink Swung her restless gaze Tracking the other man’s gaze Unglued her eyes from him Unrelenting stare Up went his brows Violet eyes strayed to the Watched until distance obscured Wrenched his gaze

Eye Expression and Appearance

[Some of these cross over with Movement]

Moon-eyed Sloe-eyed Burned fanatically Devoured her beauty Eyes implored A look designed to peel his hide All-consuming Almond shaped Appraising glance Astute gaze Avid eyes attested to his quick wit Beady rat eyes Beseeching Bewildered Blazed like torches Boomerang brows like Ayatollah Khomeini’s Bright with age Bug-eyed Bulging with fright Chaotic, helter-skelter eyebrow—like his mind, unsystematic and fickle Cold/cool/chilly/icy/frigid Commanding visage Cross-eyed Crudely insulting stare Deep set beneath heavy black brows Disapproval gleamed in her eyes Dissatisfaction plowed his brow Disturbing smoke-hued Elliptical eyes with heavy lids Eyebrows like checkmarks Eyes all gooey with Eyes like a shark Feline eyes Flashed with gaiety/anger etc Flat black, dispassionate as bullets Frankly assessing Get a load of those blinkers Gleam of deviltry Glittering with Green flinty rocks Hallows of madness Hard as nails Heart-stopping eyes Held hostage by his eyes Intent and unwavering/riveted Irritated visage Liquid pools of Luminous glow of happiness Magnetic Mellow as the sky at sunset Narrowed to slits Nebulous gaze / unreadable New moon-shaped Penetrating blue of his eyes Possessed the power to make her Rheumy old eyes Sardonic/disdaining/skeptical/mocking Sharp with intelligence Slits for eyes Sliver of emotion in those cool eyes Sloped down at the corners like a sad pup Small evil eyes Sneaky close-set eyes So tired his eyeballs seemed to sag out Steeply arched brows Sunken in the head Sympathetic Tears of remorse flooded The dark mystery of his eyes Triangular brows/always surprised Twenty-twenty vision Veiled expression of Visionary eyes Visual exploration of Watery eyes Where did you get those peepers Wild and frightened Wore spectacles/glasses/winkers

This article was originally written by  Sharla at the  Writers In The Storm Blog

Read the full article here, more you might like.

I couldn’t continue to bring myself to the breaking point of sanity, so that you would look at me the way I looked at you. That’s all I want, all I really want is for someone to see me the way I saw you.

I want my writing to be like Winter snow. Playful, something that revives the laughter made dormant by society. Engulfing, a strong mass of metaphors and similes. Drenching, covering romance starved hearts with sweet nothings and kissing the eyes of the ones who read them. Strong, pushing back against apathy and sadness, a glimmer of hope to the ones who need them. I want my writing to be like a flower in Spring. Slowly growing and unfolding to reveal beautiful things So attractive that the ink on the paper smells like fancy perfume A reminder that wonderful things take a little bit of time to bloom. I want my writing to be like the Summer sun. Burning, not with lust but with passion and the will to not give up and just be done. Enlightening, in a way that brings happiness and sight. Brightening, to chase away the darkness and help people get through the night. You could say I don’t want to be just another leaf in the Fall. There are poets who create written love, written weaponry and even written wings and I want to do it all. I want to be soft, rough, gentle and intense. But really, I just want to know that something I said makes sense.

25 THINGS TO KEEP IN MIND IF YOU WANT TO WRITE A BOOK

Most of us would write a book if we thought ourselves competent enough and had less fear. There is nothing more fulfilling and gratifying than seeing your name in print or in a bookstore. For a special few of us, this is a dream and for others this is an interest. If you love writing poetry, short-fiction or aspire to be the next great literary master, we invite you to look at these points before you begin.

Keep reading

I am my own muse. I am art. I inspire myself to be. live. seek. evoke. dance. make. breathe… Love.

I stopped writing poetry for so long because I am happy. I stopped because looking into your eyes is like reading beautifully crafter sonnets About what the sky looks like in a warm summer night and Your smile is perfectly rhyming writing on how it feels to be at home. I have read and written many poems. I used to think my words made things beautiful. My love, the reason I stopped writing so often is simply because You are the poem I could never quite put onto paper. You are the poem I am very happy with only reading.

To me, you’re everything. From the violent winds that carry ocean waves, to your soft eyes and messy hair. You’re the human form of all the poetry I’ve ever written. But my poetry can be suffocating. There’s thick red bruises stretched across my neck, and I can’t tell if writing is healing me, or destroying me. But maybe that’s how I feel about you, too.

18 Essential Sites for Writers That Will Change Your Life

Originally posted by foreverlostinliterature

Although writers have a knack for words, like the rest of us, they also need a little help here and there. We introduce the best 18 websites, which will help you craft your next fiction story or find the perfect word to describe the dreamy blue eyes you’re in love with.

Dive into a pool of creative writing prompts, free book downloads and a little app, which will actually break your writer’s block.

don’t you dare let yourself fall for a poet don’t you dare let yourself fall for me I’ll crawl into your body writing poetry in your veins becoming the very thing that you breathe don’t you dare let yourself fall for a poet I’ll write poetry, my pen, ink deep blue to match the colour of your veins so when I leave, you can’t even erase me you can’t kill the idea of me without destroying you first don’t you dare let yourself fall for me

She spoke of the broken places in the city as being her refuge. The dim, ivory-lit streets offering up life, unlike the pristine coffin of her home where darkness lurked outside its artificial glow. On the longest nights she whispered to herself lost verses of incomplete poetry, lifted from fading sheets of long-since forgotten volumes, discarded by authors who abandoned to their midnight lines the vestiges of their singular hope of finding love.

“Sometimes you climb out of bed in the morning and you think, I'm not going to make it, but you laugh inside — remembering all the times you've felt that way.” ― Charles Bukowski

BRYN DONOVAN

tell your stories, love your life

• Writing Inspiration
• Semi-Charmed Life
• Reading & Research
• Works In Progress.

Master List of Physical Description for Writers

I created this list of ways to describe people

because physical description, when done well, helps the readers see characters in their minds. But sometimes when you’re in the middle of writing, it can be hard to think of physical adjectives and distinguishing features for characters. I find that describing facial features can be especially tricky!

This long list of physical characteristics is kind of like a character description generator, and it’ll help you when you’re trying to think of how to describe a character’s appearance.

Eyes – General

 For all the words about describing facial features, I’m focusing more on physical descriptions rather than emotional expressions, though there’s a little crossover! You can also check out my long list of facial expressions.

heavy-lidded

fringed with long lashes

with sweeping eyelashes

with thick eyelashes

By the way, this post on how to describe (and not describe) the eyes of an Asian character  is really great. Check it out.

Eyes – Color

Brown is the most common eye color by far. Green is quite rare.

chocolate brown

cocoa brown

coffee brown

sienna brown

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cornflower blue

Arctic blue

glacial blue

crystal blue

electric blue

slate blue / slate gray

storm blue / storm gray

silver / silver gray

concrete gray

gunmetal gray

Skin – Color

Josh Roby made a great chart of skin tones and descriptor words, and I got a lot of these words from him. You can get that here .

The quote from N.K. Jemisin interested me: “I get really tired of seeing African-descended characters described in terms of the goods that drove, and still drive, the slave trade—coffee, chocolate, brown sugar. There’s some weird psychosocial baggage attached to that.” 

cream / creamy

rose / rosy

Skin – General

Some of these are better for the face, and some are better for other parts of the body.

translucent

luminescent

with large pores

weather-beaten

Face – Structure

heart-shaped

high forehead

broad forehead

prominent brow ridge

protruding brow bone

sharp cheekbones

high cheekbones

angular cheekbones

hollow cheeks

jutting chin

pointed chin

receding chin

double chin

dimple in chin

visible Adam’s apple

People don’t write much about noses, but they can be distinguishing features for characters!

Cupid’s bow

straight teeth

gap between teeth

gleaming white teeth

Facial Hair (or lack thereof)

clean-shaven

smooth-shaven

mutton-chop sideburns

a few days’ growth of beard

five o’ clock shadow

Hair – General

I threw a few hairstyles in here, though not many.

shoulder-length

neatly combed

slicked down / slicked back

buzzed / buzz cut

widow’s peak

Hair – Color

There are some repeats here from the eye color section!

salt and pepper

charcoal gray

brown sugar

tawny brown

toffee brown

Titian-haired

strawberry blonde

butterscotch

sandy blond

fair-haired

Body Type – General

average height

barrel-chested

heavy / heavy-set

pot-bellied

full-figured

leggy / long-legged

broad-shouldered

sloping shoulders

stubby fingers

long fingers

ragged nails

grimy fingernails

ink-stained

This list and many more are in my book Master Lists for Writers: Thesauruses, Plot Ideas, Character Traits, Names, and More . Check it out if you’re interested!

And if you don’t want to miss future writing posts, follow the blog, if you aren’t already — there’s a place to sign up on the lefthand side of the blog. Thanks for stopping by, and happy writing!

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127 thoughts on “ master list of physical description for writers ”.

Thanks, Bryn! This list has sparked a spark in my brain. I haven’t seen one of those for a while. I was getting worried I’d lost my flint!

I’m so glad you like it!

I love this, do you mind if we share on our blog WritersLife.org ?

Thanks for the positive feedback! You can’t reproduce it on your blog, but you can share an excerpt of 200 words or less plus a link to my site.

As a new novel writer all I can say is thank very much for sharing with us this wonderful list.

Ah you’re welcome! Thanks for visiting!

This is amazing! Thank you very much!

Thanks for the kind words–glad it seems helpful!

Reblogged this on looselyjournalying.

Reblogged this on Of Fancy & Creativity .

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Aw thank you for this it helped so much! I’m 15 and I’m trying to write a novel and this was sooooo helpful so thank you a billion 🙂 Best wishes.

Ah you’re welcome! Thanks for stopping by. Good for you for working on a novel, and good luck–I bet it will go great!

Hi, Bryn Thank you for doing these lists. They helped me a lot. Can you make a list on how to describe emotions like sadness or anger.

It’s funny you should ask 🙂 There’s a list like that in my book MASTER LISTS FOR WRITERS coming out this fall! I haven’t officially announced it yet, but hey 🙂

You can get a free copy when it comes out if you agree to give it an honest review. SIgn up for my newsletter if you’re interested!

Reblogged this on Kalynn Bayron and commented: Yes! This is great!

Was just looking for this type of lists.Great work.

This is so helpful.

I love your blog, btw. Your posts are informative and/or inspirational.

Are you on any social medial where I can follow you?

Oh, thank you so much! I just checked out your blog — I love the dream casting post! http://sbhadleywilson.com/blog/pull-ideal-cast-2/

I’m @BrynDonovan on Twitter, just followed you!

VERY helpful. I need to get basic descriptions of people done and out of the way to move on with plot. This quickens any details that might have taken me a long time to think through, or strain a sentence. Yuck. I know my females characters would pay attention to lots of physical details. not so with the males. Thanks!

Oh, so glad it’s helpful! That’s always what I’m trying to do with my lists — speed things up. I hate getting stuck on a detail and losing my momentum 🙂 Thanks for stopping by!

godsent list! Bryn, I wish you more brains.

Reblogged this on Jessica Louis and commented: This list is beyond helpful. Who knew there were so many eye colors!?

Thanks Bryn your list was amazing. I’m an aspiring writer and it really helped me a lot. When I can I’m going to get a copy of your book. I think it would help me become a better writer. My genre of choice is erotic, but it is so hard to get out there, but I’m hopeful one day I will. It’s what I love to do and I’m going to keep trying.

Hi Beth! Thank you so much for the kind words. If you do get the book, I hope you like it! And good luck on writing erotica — I’m doing a “WIP Wednesday” this Wednesday where you can share a bit of your work in progress, if you like 🙂

That would be great. I have some short stories publish on a site called Literotica. I have some editing issues that I’m trying to work out, nothing a few classes wouldn’t help. How do I share my work.

I am so sorry! I missed this comment before. The next WIP Wednesday on the blog is Dec. 2… if you’re following the blog you’ll see the post! (The follow button is on the righthand side of this page.) Hope your writing’s going well 🙂

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Reblogged this on PRINCE CHARMING ISN'T HERE and commented: what an amazing list! I always have a hard time describing features! words sometimes fail me!

i loved this list! thank you so much for making it! 🙂

So glad it was helpful!

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Thank you! This is so helpful to have for reference. Occasionally I’ll have a particular word in mind and can’t think of it, and I can usually pop over here and find it right away!

I absolutely love your master lists. They have helped me so much in diversifying the words I use when I’m writing. 🙂

Ohhh thank you! That is so great to hear. 🙂 Hope your writing projects are going great!

Thank you, and they are. I’m just about to publish a works I’ve been working on for the past couple of months, which is so exciting. XD Hope all your writing projects are going great as well. 🙂

What a wonderful and thorough list Bryn. Thanks for sharing it! I will at some point ‘link back’ to this fabulous article (I’ll let you know when I do.) I’m new to your site, but will certainly be back for more! I’m fascinated to learn that you’re also a home-grown KC girl. =0) Although, I remarried and moved to California 9 years ago, KC still tugs my heart-strings.

Hey, so glad you like it! Yeah, Kansas City is a special place. Come visit anytime 🙂 And thanks for visiting my blog! — I LOVE your username, by the way. Made me smile.

thanks for following my blog!

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Reblogged this on A Blissful Garden and commented: I find this very important!

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Reblogged this on Insideamoronsbrain and commented: Wow!!

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Thanks for sharing this list! It is amazing and so helpful !

I’m going to save this as a favorite. You always provide great information Bryn. Continue with your success.

Oh, thank you so much, Christopher! I really appreciate the kind words. So glad you like this!

This list is so complete! I haven’t worked on fiction in a long while, but lately I’ve been wanting to get back into it. I know this is going to be a great help when i sit down to create my characters!

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This is absolutely perfect for aspiring writers so that we don’t have to use Microsoft Word synonyms that tend to nit have what we’re searching for. Your introductory paragraph about readers falling in love with characters’ personalities and not theit physical attributes was spot on. Thank you thank you, thank you!

Chunny! Thank you so very much for the kind words. I’m so glad you found it helpful!!

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This is amazing! Thank you! I hope it’s alright if I use this as a reference in a blog post for character development.

Hi Jacquelyn! So glad you like it. That’s fine, just please link to the post!

I read this over and over, thank you for creating this! Can I just ask, when thinking of clothing and how to describe it, what are some things you would put? (I’m making a book draft and have never needed clothing described to me as much as now)

Thank you! It’s so important that we don’t reuse the same words too often, so this will help a lot with that problem.

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Thanks for helping me. It really made a big difference of helping me come up with something.

Hi Joseph! Sorry for the delayed reply! I’m so glad you liked it. Thanks for the kind words!

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Your book “Master Lists for Writers” has helped me incredibly. I’ve always wanted to be a romance writer but didn’t have the nerve until now. I am currently working on a short story about a college girl who is assaulted by a classmate. It was based on a dream I had a few nights ago. I haven’t developed how she gets her revenge on him. I know the story line seems dark but the dream stuck with me so much, I felt the urge to turn it into a story. Thank you again for your awesome book. What a great resource

Rhonda! Thank you so much for the kind words. I am so happy that the book is helpful, and even gladder that you’re going for it and writing! Sending you best wishes on your story!

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Great advice in this post, Bryn! Thank you.

Used this for school! It was really helpful!

Oh yay! So glad it was helpful!

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This is a great list! So comprehensive, and just what I was looking for. I struggle with physical descriptions of people and have a tendency to write the same kins of attributes. So this list is fab!

This is great!

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keep up the good work

Hey thanks 🙂

This is so helpful!!!!!

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Tiptoeing out there to publish my first book (I’ve been writing a long time). This post helped so much. Thanks!

oh my gosh, thank you! You have put a lot of effort in this list. I def appreciate it 🙂

Thank you I´m always using this when I´m creating new characters.

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Incredibly helpful! Thanks a lot :3

Thank you for sharing this!

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More extensive than my general list. My wizened goatee and elder Fu Manchu thank you for sharing your time and devotion to the craft.

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Very useful for ready reference. Thank you very much.

Thanks, Mohan! So glad you liked it!

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I’ve been writing for a while, mostly for fun, but this was the one thing I could never get down, but this list is great! all around solid, and incredibly useful, I see myself using it every time I need to make a new character, good job!

You’re a legend! This is fantastic, thank you!

Hahaha, thanks for the kind words! 🙂 Glad it’s helpful!

I am following your prompts and valuable advice for writing a fantasy teen fiction novel. I think you are amazing. You might not know it but I was able to clear hundreds of my doubts through your help. Please keep up the good work and providing your valuable support to all of us upcoming writers.

Hey, thank you so much for the kind words—you made my day! It’s wonderful to hear that you’re working on YA fantasy. I’m so glad I could help, and I wish you every success!

I honestly would not recommend this as good writing advice. The focus is too much on describing someone’s physical features using analogies for food. That is not a good thing, it becomes trite and overdone. If used sparsely it’s okay but almost every word in this list is food related.

Hi, Larissa! Thanks for taking your valuable time to share your opinion.

You have done a great job preparing this Master List. Those who think such precise words for describing someone hurt their sensibilities, move on to another URL. I appreciate every bit of your effort.

Hi, Pradeep! I am so glad you like the list. Thanks so much for commenting!

Bryn, I love your master list book and use it all the time!

Ohh, thank you so much! I’m so glad it’s helpful!

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This is a godsend. I owe you my soul.

I work 20 hours per day, (regular business and writing the memoir). Just ordered the Master List–seems like having my own research assistant. I may be able to get 5 hours sleep now. Thanks

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No jaw descriptions? ;(

You saved my day with your wonderful, descriptive words! Now I’ve found the perfect features for my handsome male character. Thank you!

That is a lot of hours for books but I guess if you keep pushing it will happen.

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Hi Bryn, thanks so much for this information! I always appreciate your lists because I like comprehensive material all in one location as a reference (then if I decide to break the rules, at least I know what the rules are “supposed to be” first!). Have you considered making comprehensive lists of creative writing genre conventions (tropes, archetypes, settings, devices, etc.)?

Hello, and thank you for the valuable and useful information. I agree with Eleanore regarding the list of genre conventions. I’m more than pleased I found you website.

Thank u so much ❤️ that was so helpful

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Nicholas C. Rossis

dream-protecting author

3 Tips On Describing Eyes In A Story

Jan 27, 2017 | Writing

NowNovel recently posted a great post on how to describe eyes in a story . As they point out, many beginning authors over-rely on eye color to create an impression of their characters, but this is merely a first step. Instead, you can follow these tips to create a memorable description:

1. Make a characters’ eyes a source of contrast

Drawing of an eye by Marigona Toma. Source: pinterest.com/pin/390124386447098306/

As any trip to the local coffee shop will tell you, people’s appearances are often full of contrasts . The man with the big, ruddy face might have small, delicate hands. The woman with the angelic face may have a trucker’s hoarse voice. And so on. One way to describe characters’ eyes effectively is to use them to create contrast.

This can be particularly effective if the contrast is used to highlight a character’s “ third dimension ” – ie what makes them non-stereotypical. Having your villain glance with sympathy at a stray is jarring precisely because it’s so unexpected. And yet, even the most evil of people may be surprisingly fond of their pets.

2. Use eye description to support story development

One reason descriptions of novel characters’ eyes sometimes read as cliché is because authors describe eyes with no consideration of how that description fits into the story . “She glared at him with grey-green eyes” reads a little awkwardly because the character’s eye color is not particularly relevant. Drawing attention to it almost detracts from the key action here – the character’s anger.

Instead, you can use eye description at key points of character development. For example, if a character witnesses a horrific scene, their eyes might seem vacant or haunted . Or, a character’s eyes may show readers that person’s character or intent , as in this example from Dostoevsky, who uses adjectives to describe a character’s eyes in order to support the tone and mood of a scene: “two sharp and suspicious eyes stared at him out of the darkness.”

3. Describe the eye area rather than just eye color

To avoid clichéd eye descriptions, describe the eye area instead of describing color. For example, if there are bags underneath a character’s eyes, this conveys tiredness  or anxiety . Eyes that are swollen , puffy or ringed with red indicate recent emotional distress. Narrowed eyes indicate hostility or suspicion. Half-closed eyes indicate drowsiness, and so on.

For more ideas on the subject, check out the full post on  NowNovel .

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13 Comments

Useful information! Thanks!

A pleasure! Happy writing 🙂

Great post! Eyes are so expressive, it’s great to have more ways to write about them. 🙂

Indeed it is!

Fabulous. Thanks for sharing, Nicholas. 🙂

A pleasure 🙂

Great Tips. Nothing is more dull than reading simple descriptions.

Thing is, we do it without even realizing it 🙂

I am going with those large bags under the eyes too. Mainly because I also have them! Regards, Pete.

That one spoke to me as well… 😀

Good advice. I like using eyes to portray emotions, but I tend to put the color in. This happens a lot when I have characters of the same gender interacting. I’ve found that people can be confused in third person POV unless you use some physical markers to denote the character. Hair color, eye color, etc. can help here. At least with my style because I used to have a lot of readers ask which hero was doing what since I would only say ‘her hair’ or ‘her eyes’.

Thanks! I share what I, too, need to heed 🙂

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90+ Words to Describe Eyes | A-Z List

The eyes have been referred to as the gateway to the soul because of their ability to quietly convey message.

If you’re trying to describe the appearance or expression in someone’s eyes, one of the following words to describe eyes may be exactly what you’re looking for.

A person’s eyes can convey a wide range of emotions. A significant message can be conveyed with a straightforward glance, a vacant stare, or a tight squint.

Human eyes are a perfect literary tool for personality in fantasy writing because of their expressiveness. ‎

Finding the right words to describe eyes could be the difference between creating a good story and a great one.

There are many ways to characterise eyes, from their physical characteristics to the meaning conveyed or interpreted through expression.

Look no further than this extensive list of words to describe eyes if you’re looking for beautiful terms. ‎

You Might Also Like:

• Words to Describe Love
• Words to Describe Personality
• Adjectives to Describe a Person

Table of Contents

Words to Describe EyesThat Start with A

One of the first features people mention when describing someone’s appearance is their eye colour, along with their hair colour. The following words that start with the letter A can be used to describe eyes. ‎

• All-knowing
• Almond-shaped

Words to Describe Eyes That Start with B

Without a doubt, the most important symbolic sense organ is the eye. They may stand for insight, wisdom, or a doorway to the soul. Here are some words for eyes that start with the letter B.

Words to Describe Eyes That Start with C

You may not realise how much information your eyes convey, but they actually contribute significantly to nonverbal cues. Here are a few words that start with C that describe eyes.

• Compassionate

Words to Describe Eyes That Start with D

Eyes gather information about a character and provide information about their intentions or thoughts toward an issue. When discussing a character’s nonverbal cues, start with the eyes. These words that start with the letter D can be used to describe someone’s eyes . ‎

• Distinctive

Words to Describe Eyes That Start with E

The eyes can convey happiness in a number of different ways. A smile and arched eyebrows indicate that you are happy to see someone. Moms naturally do this with their newborns in many different cultures. Here are some words to describe eyes that start with the letter E. ‎

• Enlightening

Words to Describe Eyes That Start with F

It’s hard to look at someone without first focusing on their eyes. While many distinguishing facial features can be attractive, eyes have a huge impact on a person’s genuine attractiveness. In this section, we’ve listed some words to describe eyes that start with the letter F.

• Flirtatious

Words to Describe Eyes That Start with G

Another way to tell if someone is happy by looking at their eyes is to measure how thick their eyelashes are. Large pupils let others know that you value what they see. Below are a fewwords to describe eyes that start with the letter G.

Words to Describe Eyes That Start with L

Eyes are frequently associated with intelligence, brightness, alertness, moral conscience, and honesty, among other qualities. These words that start with the letter L are used to describe eyes. Try them out!

• Lash-fringed
• Love-struck

Words to Describe Eyes That Start with P

Skepticism is expressed by an arched brow. Over the top of the glasses, eyes cast a doubtful glance. Here are a few words that start with P that describe eyes and talk about different aspects of eyes.

• Penetrating

Words to Describe Eyes That Start with S

It may be difficult to determine exactly what makes eyes attractive. However, you don’t need to worry about it. You might find these words to be helpful when describing eyes that start with the letter S. ‎

• Sympathetic

Words to Describe Eyes That Start with W

Our eyes convey a lot, and by studying others’ eyes, we can possibly grasp their feelings. Although some think that visual processing analysis is unreliable or debatable, it might actually have some validity. Here are a few words for eyes that start with the letter W. ‎

Words to Describe Eyes – Full List (90+ Words)

You shouldn’t worry if you struggle to explain eyes in words. Here is a lengthy list of words to describe eyes that can be used to describe various aspects of a person’s eyes.

• Mesmerizing

Final Thoughts on Words to Describe Eyes

The word “attractive” is not the only one that can be used to describe eyes. Use one of these words to describe eyes to make your description more compelling and realistic.

In order to accurately depict how eyes seem, it is often necessary to describe their physical characteristics. Use these words to describe eyes to help your readers understand what you are trying to say. ‎

A crucial component of adequately describing the appearance of eyes is mentioning colour. So that readers may clearly understand what you’re saying, be as accurate as you can when describing eyes in your writing.

Eyes can convey a secret, a goal, or insight into a character’s emotional state. Inclusion of a detailed description of the characters’ eyes in your writing could add to the reader’s comprehension of the story.

This is why it’s important to choose your words to describe eyes carefully when describing eyes.

100+ Synonyms for Sexy | A-Z List

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25 Best Words to Describe Blue Eyes

Describing someone’s eye colour is a great way to set up a character in a story or talk about them romantically. This article will explore how to describe blue eyes in creative writing (or in your own words) to show just how much you appreciate someone’s eyes.

The best words to describe blue eyes are “icy,” “electric,” and “sparkling.” These words are perfect because they show that you appreciate and admire the colouring of someone’s eyes. They all come with “blue” vibes, allowing you to be more descriptive without needing the colour.

“Icy” shows that someone has depth to their eyes due to the blue colour. It usually allows you to feel the same things they feel or find a way to read them by looking at them.

“Icy” could also be used negatively to show that someone has an “icy” personality and doesn’t let people get close to them.

• Her icy blue eyes were her best feature. That’s what everyone would get caught up in.
• I love your icy blue eyes. Has anyone told you how beautiful they are to look at?

2. Electric

“Electric” is a great adjective to refer to someone with a beautiful pigment in their blue eyes. It relates to electricity being blue in certain spectrums, which is often a beautiful thing to look at. The same is implied when referring to blue eyes.

• You have such electric blue eyes. I wish I was able to stare into them forever.
• I think she has the most electric eyes I’ve ever seen. Nobody can come close to topping that sensation.

3. Sparkling

“Sparkling” is a great adjective to use to compliment someone’s blue eyes. It shows that they seem to “sparkle” like a star or anything else that glows and shines. It’s a really positive way to compliment someone.

• Your sparkling blue eyes are everything I could ever ask for. I think they’re the most beautiful things in the world.
• You have such sparkling eyes. I find it impossible to look away from them.

4. Ocean-Blue

“Ocean-blue” shows depth and admiration towards someone’s eye colour. It works well when you want to relate their eyes to the colour of the ocean (which is one of the nicest shades of blue).

• My ocean-blue eyes get a lot of compliments. I had no idea they were so pretty.
• Have you seen her ocean-blue eyes? They’re amazing to look into. You can hear your own thoughts.

5. Piercing

“Piercing” works well when looking at someone and feeling them “pierce” your soul. It’s a positive way to show that you find them striking and interesting based entirely on the colour of their eyes.

• She has such piercing eyes. My only wish is that I could look into them all day.
• I think you have such piercing eyes. It’s like you’re looking directly into my soul at all times.

“Pale” is a negative adjective showing that someone doesn’t have a lot of emotion or beauty in their eyes. It works best for blue eyes because it relates to them having no powerful colouring in the blue of their eyes, thus having no personality to match.

• Her pale blue eyes made it hard for me to read her. She wasn’t expressing a lot of emotion.
• He has pale blue eyes, making it hard to understand what he’s thinking. I don’t get him.

7. Fascinating

“Fascinating” is a great word to use when you are taken aback by someone’s eyes, especially if they are blue (or green). It shows that you are fascinated by someone’s looks. It’s a great compliment to use when you’re trying to be romantic and forward.

• You have such fascinating eyes. I only wish that you could look into mine more often.
• I think you have beautiful and fascinating eyes. I can learn so much from them.

“Angelic” is a great way to liken someone to a biblical angel. “Angels” are said to be the most beautiful beings in the world, so complimenting someone’s eyes by saying “angelic” is like saying they are one of the most beautiful people to look at.

It’s a great adjective to use because it’s going to flatter almost anyone you say it to.

• Your angelic eyes mean everything to me. I wish I could stare into them all day long.
• She has angelic eyes. If you look into them, you’re going to fall into a trance.

9. Mesmerizing

“Mesmerizing” implies that you can get lost in someone’s blue eyes. It means you might end up in a trance while looking at them because you cannot look away. This is a complimentary way to show someone that you love how their eyes look.

• Her mesmerizing eyes are easy to get lost in. Be careful staring for too long. It could get tricky.
• I think she has the most mesmerizing eyes I’ve ever seen. I don’t know where else to look.

10. Intoxicating

“Intoxicating” shows that you feel a bit drunk or loopy when looking into someone’s eyes. This works well when you don’t know what else to say because you are lost in someone’s beauty or brilliantly blue eyes.

• You have intoxicating eyes. Has anyone ever told you that? I can’t look away for a second.
• He has this intoxicating look about him that comes with his magnetic blue eyes.

11. Alluring

“Alluring” shows that you can fall in love with someone simply because of the colour of their eyes. Any eye colour can be “alluring” as long as you find the person attractive when looking at their eyes.

• Your alluring eyes are your best asset. You’ve got to start using them to your advantage now.
• You have alluring eyes. I wish mine could be like that. They look so incredible.

12. Dazzling

“Dazzling” is great to use if you can’t figure out what else to say because someone’s taken your breath away. This shows that you are “dazzled” by someone’s eyes and would love to see them more often.

• Your dazzling blue eyes are the most beautiful things I’ve ever seen. I’m sure you hear that a lot.
• Sarah’s dazzling eyes were enough to take my breath away. She’s the perfect person to be around.

13. Lustrous

“Lustrous” is a great way to refer to the colour of someone’s eyes. It shows that you are blown away by the colour, depth, or beauty of the blue eyes you can see before you. It’s great to compliment someone, especially in a romantic sense.

• You have lustrous eyes, and you mean everything to me. I hope you realize that.
• Her lustrous eyes make it hard for me to turn away. I don’t know where else to look.

14. Brilliant

“Brilliant” is one of the most common adjectives for blue eyes because people like the alliteration of the “B” letter. It works well to show that you think someone has beautiful eyes, or you can easily get lost in them.

• I think you have brilliant blue eyes. If I could look into them all day, I would. I’m telling you that now.
• She has the most brilliant eyes I’ve ever seen. Nobody’s eyes are quite as glamorous as hers.

15. Beautiful

“Beautiful” might seem like a simple adjective, but it’s still a great choice for complimenting blue eyes. Alliteration comes into play again here, allowing you to repeat the “B” letter to show that you appreciate the look of someone’s beautiful blue eyes.

• You have such beautiful blue eyes. I wonder who you got them from!
• His beautiful blue eyes really contrast his mighty brown hair. I love looking into them.

16. Blindingly

“Blindingly” is another great choice that uses alliteration to its advantage. It works well because it shows that you are taken aback by the amazing colour of someone’s eyes.

• You have blindingly blue eyes. I almost don’t know where to look because I’m worried I won’t see them!
• Her blindingly blue eyes are a sight to see. You should behold them at least once.

“Cold” is a more negative word to use. It shows that you don’t like looking into someone’s blue eyes because they seem soulless or emotionless. You often won’t be able to tell much about someone’s expressions or feelings when they have “cold” eyes.

• You have cold eyes. I don’t know how to read them, and I don’t know if I want to try.
• She has such cold eyes. It makes her seem so angry most of the time. I hate that about her.

18. Magnetic

“Magnetic” shows that you are attracted to someone because of their brilliant blue eyes. It relates to the “magnetic” attraction you might get when you can’t help looking into someone’s eyes and falling in love with them.

• Your blue eyes are so magnetic. It’s like they beckon me in, and I can’t help but stare at them.
• You have such magnetic eyes. Everything about them is so perfect. I can’t look away.

19. Sympathetic

“Sympathetic” can apply to many eye colours. It implies that you can see caring and kind thoughts in someone’s blue eyes. It works well here if you are able to read someone’s eyes and know exactly what they might be thinking about.

• Her sympathetic eyes can tell a story. She doesn’t even need to say anything. She’s perfect.
• It’s all because of his sympathetic blue eyes. He’s got this look that makes it impossible to look away.

20. Telling

“Telling” is another great way to show that you can read someone’s eyes and figure out their thoughts. It’s great to include when you can see what someone is thinking because of the emotion and beauty in their eyes.

• Your blue eyes are very telling. They show me exactly what you’re thinking at all times.
• Your eyes are so telling because of how beautiful they are. Has anyone ever told you that?

21. Truthful

“Truthful” is a great word to use in this context. It shows you can see the “truth” in someone’s blue eyes. If you can gaze into someone’s eyes and work out what they’re thinking, you can figure out their “truth.”

• You have such truthful eyes. I feel like I can tell you everything, and you’ll never betray me.
• Stop having such truthful eyes! I think they’re so easy to lose myself in. I can’t quite believe it.

22. Expressive

“Expressive” shows that you can tell a lot about someone just by looking into their eyes. It’s a great way to show that you love looking at them because of the beauty you can see when you are face-to-face.

• You have very expressive eyes. It’s clear to see what you think before you’ve even spoken.
• I think she has very expressive eyes. That’s one of the things I love most about her.

“Kind” is a simple adjective, but it works well here. You can have “kind” blue eyes, meaning that someone can easily trust you because of the look you have in your eyes. It’s good to include this to show that someone is caring.

• Your kind blue eyes mean everything to me. I hope I never lose them from my life.
• You have very kind eyes, and I love that. I hope we get a chance to come across each other again.

24. Amazing

“Amazing” is a simple and complimentary way to refer to someone’s eye colour. It shows that you appreciate the colour of their eyes and think they are “amazing” to look into.

• She had amazing eyes, but I worry I’ll never see them again! I didn’t even ask her for her name.
• You have amazing eyes. I’m sure you always hear that, but it’s the truth.

25. Perfect

“Perfect” is another simple adjective showing how much you appreciate the colour of someone’s eyes. You should use this to show that you could get lost in the perfection of someone’s eyes because of the colour or appearance.

• Your blue eyes are perfect in every sense of the word. I hope you can see that yourself.
• You look beautiful. You have such perfect eyes. Never let anyone tell you differently.

Martin holds a Master’s degree in Finance and International Business. He has six years of experience in professional communication with clients, executives, and colleagues. Furthermore, he has teaching experience from Aarhus University. Martin has been featured as an expert in communication and teaching on Forbes and Shopify. Read more about Martin here .

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How to Write and Publish Children's Books

Writing Body Language: Describing Eyes

How many times have you seen authors writing body language or describing eyes in writing? Think about all the glances being shot on the pages of most novels: sarcastic ones, annoyed ones, angry ones…characters always seem to have meaningful looks and glances for each other.

Writing Body Language: Check Your Writing Tics

A go-to way of describing eyes in writing is often a tic for writers. What do I mean by “tic”? Something you do in your writing that you’re not aware of. Something you usually do a lot . Some writers have favorite words, other writers have pet descriptions, and yet others have go-to actions and gestures for their characters.

Cinematic Constructs In Prose

Why do I think so many writers rely on “She shot him a glance” or “He gave her a look” when they’re writing body language? Because it’s a cinematic construct that we’re used to in movies and on TV. When a real life person or a movie character shoots a glance, we can read their body language, see the expression on their face, and interpret meaning from their eyes.

Right away, we can get the flavor of the look or glance and what it is meant to communicate to the target character and to us, the viewer. Loaded looks are pretty much the staple of soap operas and sitcoms. A lot goes without being said in words in these visual mediums.

But that’s just the problem. Writing body language is a different ballgame. In prose, we don’t have the added benefits of seeing the character’s facial expressions or reading their looks as they give another character a meaningful glance. And if we can’t see the look…it loses a lot of its meaning. The glance becomes vague instead of specific, as it can be on the screen. And vague writing is the death of good prose.

Reach For Fresher Imagery When Describing Eyes in Writing

What’s the solution? Try to wean yourself off of glances when you’re dealing with body language in writing . Sure, you can use a well-placed glance or look if you have enough context to make it count. And you can always qualify the glance, ie: “She shot him a murderous glance” or “He fired daggers at her with his eyes,” but these are so overused that they’ve verged into cliche territory (more on how to avoid cliches here). It may be easier to just face it — a loaded look in prose will never carry the same weight as it does in visual mediums — and more on to finding a fresher way for writing body language, something that reads better on the page.

When you hire my novel editing services, I’ll help you improve all aspects of your work — including freshening up stale imagery and descriptions.

31 replies to “writing body language: describing eyes”.

Guilty!!!!! This is a great post. I so need to work on the glance thing!

I just did a fast search through my ms for the word glanced. Only 3 but I know I have other words I use far too much. What a great reminder.

“And vagueness is the death of good prose.”

Thanks for this post! Very helpful.

Nice post:) My characters glance at each other all the time. But you know, I actually like coming across glances in other writers’ work. As the reader, I get to fill that glance with whatever I want. I agree that a too vague glance will leave me frustrated with what to do with it, but when and author has done a good job of setting up the relationship previous to the glance, I think it works. You’re right, it’s probably because I do watch TV and movies that I can get a clear image of a glance when it appears in prose. And yes, the rest of the context has to be clear. I guess I’m saying that I’m all for the occasional shooting look as long as the rest of the pieces are in place:)

The words “look” and “felt” are overused in general.

As for me, I’m tired of “said brightly” and “said flatly.”

Any examples of ways to be fresh in our characters’ nonverbal communication?

You’re right, you’re right *shoots a guilty look away from Mary* =)

As a translator (English into French), I stare at a lot of prose and I’ve noticed all those glances. You don’t necessarily feel them as you read, but when you’re working on the book/manuscript, they jump out. They’re not all meaningful either. A lot of them are just there to break up dialogue, remind readers of which characters are in the scene and where they are situated in relation to each other. Pretty much like on screen indeed. The funny thing is, you lose an awful lot of those in French, because FRench isn’t very tolerant of repetitions and words like ‘regarder’ are not as discreet as ‘look’.

Hmmmm…I think this has a lot to do with a lack of INTERIORITY.

See, grasshopper has learned well…right?

Huh, I don’t think I’ve ever done this much in my writing. I think my problem is more describing facial expressions/body movements way too much, actually…

My characters definitely “gaze” way too much. She gazed into the distance. He gazed at her. Definitely one of my tics as a writer!

Yeah. My characters do that. A lot.

This is me shooting you a murderous glance for moving to New York. And a sheepish glance cuz you know I do this tic. And a wistful glance because I wish you were going to SCBWI-LA this weekend.

Guilty. Although my characters tend to glare.

Thanks Mary. I’ve found myself doing this early on… Great post

I used to do this allllllll the time. My characters would look at each other 2-3 times per page. When I finally discovered I was doing it I was aghast. How could I have not noticed?

I agree that it is an effort to get the emotion of the scene across that leads to all these shooting looks. I’ve found beefing up the character’s (their tics, backstory, quirks, peeves, etc) I can round out what’s going on and how they are feeling with other clues and cues. And of course, dialogue helps too.

Eek. Guilty. Running to purge my pages right now. Thanks, Mary.

Not much gazing, but I do have a “Their glares could light an ant on fire.” Hmmm…..

Ooh, guilty. Add that to my list of things to check for while revising…

I was at the German Film Museum yesterday, and the first thing they had was an entire room devoted to EYES and glances. In film, that’s where half of the story is. Books play like movies in my head, so I will have to be very careful on this.

Thanks, Mary!

What a great post! I am completely guilty of having everyone in my novel “looking” at each other. In revision, I will definitely have to go through and find more creative ways to convey feeling. This is a tough one, and my friend/reader flagged it for me. So thank you for confirming my suspicion that it just doesn’t work!

Mine glance, gaze, eye, stare, glare and roll their eyes. A lot. It’s the first thing I mercilessly beat down on when I edit.

• Pingback: Tweets that mention Kidlit.com · Shooting Glances -- Topsy.com

I find the easiest way to handle a glance or a saw is to get rid of the words and let the writing speak for itself. If you ‘glance over to the tub and see the water running all over the floor’ you can change that to ‘the water ran all over the floor’ and let the reader intuitively deduce that you were glancing over that way.

Just checked my WIP and I only have a couple of “glares” in 19,000 words, so I think I’m safe. Thanks Mary!

I wonder if you’re not taking it a bit too far. Eyes are our most expressive nonverbal communicators. And eyes are very confrontational. That’s why it’s so much easier to look down at the ground during an unpleasant confrontation.

Perhaps we just need some fresh ways of describing eye-to-eye interaction.

Ha, ha. Last week my critique group found about a dozen (maybe not quit that much, but it felt like it while under the gun) “swirled” in one chapter. I also have a problem with laughed, roared and yes, glanced. Yet, another thing to look for during my next revision.

Thank you so much for this post. I know I rely too heavily on eyes, and it’s something I’m working on. After I read your comments, I searched my current MS for “shot”. I’m happy to report I only found one, and she was shooting arrows, not a glance. =)

Ah, one more thing to check for during edits! I did a check and I have several glances and gazes and looks. I’ll have to poke my character’s eyes out so they’ll stop doing those things! 😉

Good thing I’m sitting here with my WIP editing it right now. Thanks Mary.

Great timing– my crit buddy and I were just talking about action beats vs interiority. It’s kinda hard to get it right!

I have to add to Anonymouse’s question– I’d like to see some authors that you think do a good job of “finding a fresher way for characters to communicate”–because you’re right, action beats and shooting glances seem to be the norm in lots of books I’ve read lately.

Thanks, as always, for your awesome insight.

So guilty of this one! I’m going to do a quick search later for all my glances/eye movement and see if I can change things up.

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heal41hp Active Member

Writing eyes.

Discussion in ' Word Mechanics ' started by heal41hp , May 26, 2013 .

googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('funpub_2a05244af8aeb4de85fd16f6beb8d75e'); }); Writing About Eyes So I was doing some research and found this great site. It has an extensive list of eye colors, their descriptions, whether they are cliché (per the author), and whether they are insufficient descriptions (per the author). There are a few photos included for illustration. http://www.obsidianbookshelf.com/html/eyecolorlist.html Another article is linked on that page (up near the top) that provides some quick resources for writing about eyes. It talks about clichés, gives some suggestions for describing eyes (it even has some exercises with photos), some guidelines on describing eye shape, and a list of eye actions and whether they're cliché or not (again, per the author). http://www.obsidianbookshelf.com/html/eyecolorhtdescribe.html I've never found a need to describe eyes in much detail but should it ever surface I think I'm well-armed now. Edit: Well, that's annoying that I can't change the thread title... I guess I shouldn't post when I'm so tired!  

Aprella Member

googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('funpub_2a05244af8aeb4de85fd16f6beb8d75e'); }); cool thanks I'm planing to make the eyes of one of my characters important so this might help!  

Alesia Pen names: AJ Connor, Carey Connolly Contributor

googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('funpub_2a05244af8aeb4de85fd16f6beb8d75e'); }); This made my heart sink Green – emerald (cliché) . Click to expand...

googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('funpub_2a05244af8aeb4de85fd16f6beb8d75e'); }); Well if there is no better description that fits, go for it I'd say. People aren't going to stop reading because there is a cliché in your story... Well I wouldn't! It's very hard not to use any sort of cliché!  

googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('funpub_2a05244af8aeb4de85fd16f6beb8d75e'); }); Alesia said: ↑ My MC has these like almost inhumanly bright green eyes and that's the first word that keeps popping to mind. Click to expand...

googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('funpub_2a05244af8aeb4de85fd16f6beb8d75e'); }); Unfortunately, emeralds no longer exist in my world  

KaTrian A foolish little beast. Contributor

googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('funpub_2a05244af8aeb4de85fd16f6beb8d75e'); }); Cool links, thanks I actually found just the color to describe a character's eyes I always struggled with, and I knew it was important to mention it because her eyes stand out from her face. That sentence sounded less disturbing in my head.  

googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('funpub_2a05244af8aeb4de85fd16f6beb8d75e'); }); KaTrian said: ↑ Cool links, thanks I actually found just the color to describe a character's eyes I always struggled with, and I knew it was important to mention it because her eyes stand out from her face. That sentence sounded less disturbing in my head. Click to expand...

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