wide-eyed

USAGE SUMMARY

"wide-eyed" is a correct and usable word in written English.
You can use it to describe someone who is looking at something with surprise or amazement. For example, "When she saw the beautiful sunset, she was wide-eyed with wonder."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

57 human-written examples

Toddlers stared wide-eyed.

The New York Times

A wide-eyed lifestyle spectacle?

Independent

It was wide-eyed intensity.

The New York Times - Sports

Wide-eyed Americans do not.

The New York Times

"Wow," Jones says, wide-eyed.

The New Yorker

"They were wide-eyed.

The Guardian - Film

Gabriela was wide-eyed.

The New York Times - Arts

I stared, wide-eyed.

The New Yorker

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

3 human-written examples

"I'm really wide eyed about it.

Los Angeles Times

Wide eyed, she nods vigorously.

Vice

Wide eyed, Simon hauled the nets in.

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "wide-eyed" to vividly describe a character's reaction to something surprising, innocent, or awe-inspiring. This adds depth to your writing and helps the reader visualize the scene.

Common error

Avoid excessive use of "wide-eyed" as a dialogue tag. Instead, vary your descriptions of character reactions to maintain reader engagement and avoid repetition.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "wide-eyed" primarily functions as an adjective, modifying nouns to describe someone's appearance or state of mind. It indicates surprise, innocence, or naivety, as seen in Ludwig's examples: "Toddlers stared "wide-eyed"" and "Audiences sit "wide-eyed" and enraptured."

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

86%

Wiki

8%

Formal & Business

6%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Science

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "wide-eyed" is a common and grammatically sound adjective phrase used to describe someone's expression of surprise, innocence, or naivety. Ludwig's analysis confirms its correctness and provides numerous examples from reliable sources such as The New York Times and The Guardian. The phrase is versatile, fitting into both formal and informal contexts, although it is most frequently found in News & Media. As Ludwig AI indicates, using "wide-eyed" effectively adds descriptive depth to writing, helping readers visualize and understand the emotional state of a character or subject.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

starry-eyed

Similar in meaning, often used to describe someone who is idealistic or hopeful, sometimes to the point of being naive.

astonished

Expresses a state of great surprise and wonder, similar to being "wide-eyed" due to astonishment.

amazed

Indicates a feeling of great surprise and wonder, aligning with the sense of awe in some "wide-eyed" contexts.

surprised

A more general term for feeling or showing surprise, related to the startled or amazed aspect of being "wide-eyed".

awestruck

Captures the feeling of being filled with awe and wonder, a possible cause for a "wide-eyed" expression.

naive

Captures the innocent or inexperienced connotation that "wide-eyed" can sometimes imply.

incredulous

Implies disbelief and surprise, mirroring the astonishment that can accompany a "wide-eyed" reaction.

innocent

Highlights the purity and lack of worldly knowledge that can be associated with a "wide-eyed" expression.

gaping

Emphasizes the open-mouthed, astonished look, akin to the physical manifestation of being "wide-eyed".

open-mouthed

Focuses on the physical expression of surprise, similar to the physical appearance of someone who is "wide-eyed".

FAQs

How can I use "wide-eyed" in a sentence?

"Wide-eyed" can be used to describe someone experiencing surprise, wonder, or naivety. For example, "The children were "wide-eyed" as they watched the magician perform" or "The "wide-eyed" tourist was amazed by the city's architecture".

What's a good alternative to "wide-eyed"?

Depending on the context, alternatives to "wide-eyed" include "astonished", "surprised", "amazed", or "starry-eyed". The best choice depends on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is "wide eyed" or "wide-eyed" correct?

"Wide-eyed" is the correct spelling as it is a compound adjective. "Wide eyed" without the hyphen is less common and can be seen as incorrect in formal writing.

When should I use "starry-eyed" instead of "wide-eyed"?

While both terms indicate a sense of wonder, "starry-eyed" often implies a more idealistic or naive perspective, suggesting hopes and dreams, while "wide-eyed" is a more general descriptor of surprise or innocence. For example, "She was "starry-eyed" about her future career" versus "He was "wide-eyed" at the sight of the fireworks".