eyesight
B2Neutral formal, informal
Definition
Meaning
The ability to see; the power of vision.
The general quality or strength of someone's vision; also used metaphorically to describe mental perception or awareness.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Generally uncountable; refers to the faculty, not the act of seeing. Can be modified by adjectives (good, poor, excellent).
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant differences in usage. Both use the compound 'eyesight' over the simpler 'sight' in formal contexts.
Connotations
Neutral in both varieties, though 'eyesight' can sound slightly more formal or medical than 'sight' in casual speech.
Frequency
Slightly more common in UK English in formal writing; US English uses 'vision' equally in medical/technical contexts.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
have + (adjective) + eyesightsuffer from + (adjective) + eyesightVocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Eyesight like a hawk”
- “In the eyesight of the law (rare, metaphorical)”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Rare, except in health insurance or occupational safety contexts (e.g., 'jobs requiring good eyesight').
Academic
Used in medical, biological, and psychological studies on perception.
Everyday
Common in discussions about health, ageing, and optician visits.
Technical
Used in optometry and ophthalmology, often with precise measurements (e.g., '20/20 eyesight').
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- Not applicable
American English
- Not applicable
adverb
British English
- Not applicable
American English
- Not applicable
adjective
British English
- An eyesight test is recommended every two years.
American English
- He has an eyesight problem that requires correction.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- My grandmother has good eyesight.
- Reading in poor light can damage your eyesight.
- His eyesight deteriorated rapidly after the accident.
- The study correlates screen time with declining eyesight in adolescents.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: EYE + SIGHT = what your eyes can see.
Conceptual Metaphor
SEEING IS UNDERSTANDING (e.g., 'She has a keen eyesight for detail' – metaphorical).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Do not confuse with 'eyeshot' (поле зрения). Russian 'зрение' covers both 'eyesight' and 'vision'.
Common Mistakes
- Using it as a countable noun (e.g., 'an eyesight').
- Confusing with 'eyesore' (something ugly).
Practice
Quiz
Which of the following is NOT a common collocation with 'eyesight'?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
'Eyesight' specifically refers to the physical ability to see. 'Vision' can mean this too, but also includes mental imagery, dreams, and future plans.
No, 'eyesight' is only a noun. The related verb is 'to see'.
It is uncountable. You cannot say 'an eyesight' or 'two eyesights'.
'Poor eyesight', 'bad eyesight', or 'weak eyesight'. The direct antonym is 'blindness'.
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