unseeing
/ˌʌnˈsiːɪŋ/ (bre, ipa) · /ˌʌnˈsiːɪŋ/ (ame, ipa)
unseeing — adjective
- unseeingpositive
- more unseeingcomparative
- most unseeingsuperlative
1. describes eyes that are open and able to see, but the person is not looking at o
describes eyes that are open and able to see, but the person is not looking at or noticing what is in front of them — often because they are thinking deeply about something else, or are shocked, exhausted, or upset.
Talia stared at the old photograph with unseeing eyes, lost in memories of her grandmother.
collocation: stared with unseeing eyes + participle phrase for cause
Kabir's unseeing gaze drifted across the room as he replayed the argument in his mind.
collocation: unseeing gaze + as-clause for distraction
Folake looked out the train window with unseeing eyes, worrying about the interview ahead.
The soldier sat on the bench with unseeing eyes, shaken by what he had witnessed.
Hao let out a long sigh, his unseeing eyes resting on the open textbook.
- blank
more general term for an expression or look that shows no emotion or understanding; less literary and more commonly used
- vacant
suggests emptiness of thought rather than preoccupation with a specific inner experience
- glassy
describes eyes that look shiny and fixed, often from shock, illness, or drugs; more physical in description
- sightless
can mean blind (permanent) or simply not seeing; more poetic and less common than 'unseeing'
文法句型
with unseeing eyes/gaze/stare
unseeing + noun
用法筆記
Frequently appears in narrative or literary writing to describe a character who is mentally or emotionally preoccupied and therefore not registering their surroundings despite having their eyes open. Common in the fixed patterns 'with unseeing eyes', 'an unseeing gaze', or 'an unseeing stare'. Do not use for permanent physical blindness — use 'blind' or 'sightless' instead.