red-eye

noun

ˈred-ˌī How to pronounce red-eye (audio)
Synonyms of red-eyenext
1
: cheap whiskey
2
: the phenomenon of a subject's eyes appearing red in a color photograph taken with a flash
3
: a late-night or overnight flight

Examples of red-eye in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Instead of sending an account executive to smooth things over, Dibrov booked a red-eye flight himself, showed up in person, and talked the customer back into the relationship by coming up with a plan to resolve any technical issues. — Lily Mae Lazarus, Fortune, 19 Aug. 2026 Use a plush memory foam travel neck pillow like this one on your next red-eye flight. — Caroline Hughes, Travel + Leisure, 15 Aug. 2026 Breakfast remains relatively stable, with down-home Southern fare like country ham with red-eye gravy or pancakes with sausage available, alongside a daily special or two. — Karla Walsh, Southern Living, 24 July 2026 Donaldson auditioned for the Heat earlier this month after taking a red-eye flight from San Francisco. — Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 25 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for red-eye

Word History

First Known Use

1819, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of red-eye was in 1819

Rhymes for red-eye

See All Rhymes for red-eye

Browse Nearby Words

redevelopment company
red-eye
redeye black bass
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Cite this Entry

“Red-eye.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/red-eye. Accessed 27 Aug. 2026.

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