eagle-eyed

IPA/ˌiːɡl ˈaɪd/
IPA/ˌiːɡl ˈaɪd/

eagle-eyed — adjective

1. able to notice tiny signs, mistakes, or changes that most other people would mis

1.adjectiveC1
Definition

able to notice tiny signs, mistakes, or changes that most other people would miss

Example

Quinn's eagle-eyed check caught a missing zero in the budget sheet.

eagle-eyed + check catches a tiny written error

Hari's eagle-eyed look found the loose button on the jacket.

eagle-eyed + look notices a small physical detail

Common collocations
  • eagle-eyed editor
  • eagle-eyed fan
  • eagle-eyed observer
  • eagle-eyed reader
  • eagle-eyed referee
  • eagle-eyed review
  • eagle-eyed check
Synonyms
  • observant

    A broader and more neutral word for noticing details, without the vivid image of unusually sharp sight.

  • sharp-eyed

    Very close in meaning, but slightly more literal and often more casual in tone.

  • perceptive

    Often suggests understanding what a detail means, not just seeing it quickly.

  • vigilant

    Stronger and more formal, often linked to danger or duty rather than tiny everyday details.

Antonyms
  • unobservant

    Fails to notice details that are visible or important.

  • careless

    Lacks the careful attention that helps an eagle-eyed person catch small problems.

  • oblivious

    Does not notice what is happening at all.

Grammar Patterns

eagle-eyed + noun

linking verb + eagle-eyed

Usage Note

Most often used before a noun such as reader, editor, fan, or observer when someone notices a very small clue or error before other people do. It can describe sharp physical sight, but it is also common for quick mental noticing, such as spotting a typo, a hidden person, or a change in numbers.

Common Mistakes

Our most eagle-eye editor found the missing date.
Our most eagle-eyed editor found the missing date.
the fixed adjective is eagle-eyed, not eagle-eye.
She eagle-eyed the fake signature at once.
She was eagle-eyed and spotted the fake signature at once.
eagle-eyed describes a person's noticing ability; it is not used as a verb.

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: adjective/1

All four words involve noticing, but they focus on different strengths. Observant is the broad everyday choice for someone who pays attention and notices details. Sharp-eyed is the closest match to eagle-eyed and often sounds a little more casual, with a strong link to literal sight. Perceptive goes beyond seeing the detail and suggests understanding its meaning, such as realizing why someone's smile seems forced. Vigilant is more formal and is usually tied to danger, duty, or preventing trouble. Eagle-eyed is vivid and slightly informal: it suggests unusually quick notice of a tiny clue, typo, movement, or hidden figure that other people miss at first glance.

observant ↗sharp-eyedperceptive ↗vigilant ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

Adverbs

  • remarkably eagle-eyed

Phrases

  • an eagle-eyed editor
  • be eagle-eyed enough to notice
  • stay eagle-eyed during a review

Etymology

Modern English

Eagle-eyed is a straightforward English compound built from eagle and eyed. It compares a person to an eagle, a bird traditionally associated with very sharp sight. The adjective first referred to keen vision and then broadened naturally to quick noticing of small clues, errors, and changes.