What Does the 👀 Eyes Emoji Mean?

Co-authored by Janice Tieperman Reviewed by Anyah Le Gilmore-Jones

Last Updated: October 7, 2024 Fact Checked

From social media feeds to group chats, the 👀 (eyes) emoji is everywhere. But what exactly does this ambiguous emoji mean? We’ve got you covered. Keep reading to have your eyes opened on all the different ways this emoji can spice up your texts, posts, and photo captions.

Eyes Emoji Meaning

The eyes emoji has many uses but typically is used to draw attention to something that was said. It can express shock, awe, surprise, or drama.

Section 1 of 4:

What does the 👀 (eyes) emoji mean?

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Shock and surprise are difficult emotions to put into words. Thankfully, the 👀 emoji does a great job of capturing the sense of excitement and astonishment that comes with a piece of unexpected news.^{[1]
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Everyone breaks the rules once in a while—what better way to flex your misdeeds than with the shady 👀 emoji? In this case, using 👀 is a playful way to boast about what you just (potentially) got away with.^{[2]
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While not quite as powerful as the 😳 or 🙃 emojis, the 👀 emoji is still a clever, subtle way to either share or react to an embarrassing moment.^{[3]
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The 👀 is an iconic way to let someone know that they have your full attention. Basically, if “spill the beans” had its own emoji, 👀 would be it.^{[4]
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It’s pretty hard to scroll through Instagram or Twitter without seeing a lot of 👀 emojis floating around—especially on people’s selfies. The 👀 emoji is a friendly, flirty way of saying “I see you.”^{[5]
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Section 2 of 4:

How to Use the 👀 (eyes) Emoji

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Send 👀 as a reply to unbelievable news. Sure, you can drop a 😱 or 😲 in response to a surprising or exciting message, but it just doesn’t have the same curious, intrigued vibe as the 👀 emoji. Keep it simple with just 1 pair of 👀, or drop multiple emojis to really amp up the shock.^{[6]
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- Them: “I just won $1,000 on a scratch ticket!”
  You: “👀👀👀”
- Them: “My family’s adopting a puppy this Friday!”
  You: “👀”
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Drop a 👀 to share or reply to an embarrassing or cringey moment. See some awkward PDA in the hall on your way to class? Vent about it a friend with the 👀 emoji. Did your bestie just text you about an embarrassing run-in with their crush? Shoot a few 👀 emojis to show that you’re all ears.^{[7]
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- “Heard some weird noises coming from the bathroom 👀👀”
- Friend: “Fell asleep in class and the teacher called on me 😩”
  You: “👀👀👀”
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Brag about your sneaky, less-than-honest exploits. Steal out of the cookie jar? Spill some mustard on your sister’s favorite shirt? The 👀 is the perfect way to express all of your sneaky, dastardly deeds to your close friends.
- “Got home an hour after curfew last night 👀”
- “Skipped class to hang out with Jason and his friends 👀👀”
- “Dan still hasn’t realized I’m mooching off his Netflix account 👀”
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Force your friend to spill the juicy details. The 👀 emoji is the perfect response to vague, mysterious messages like “Guess what happened today?” or “The craziest thing happened this morning.” Send a few emojis to show that you’re all ears—or in this case, all eyes!
- Them: “You’ll never guess who I saw at the grocery store yesterday.”
  You: “👀👀👀”
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Let a friend know they’re looking good. Give the 🔥 emoji a break and show your interest with the 👀 emoji instead. Just be sure to keep the recipient in mind! This sly emoji works best with people you know well, like a best friend shooting you a selfie over Snapchat. A crush, random acquaintance, or perfect stranger might not be as comfortable with it.^{[8]
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- Friend: “Check out my new cosplay!”
  You: “👀👀👀”

Section 3 of 4:

How to Reply to the 👀 (eyes) Emoji

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Laugh at cringey, embarrassing moments with 😂 or 🤣. Maybe your friend just shot you a text about how they walked in on someone in the bathroom, or how they accidentally said “love you” to their co-worker when hanging up the phone. Whatever the occasion, a 😂 or 🤣 can get the job done.
- Them: “Just farted in class and I’m pretty sure everyone heard it 👀”
  You: “Hopefully it didn’t smell too bad 😂😂😂”
- Them: “On cashier duty today, and I think I just checked out my first grade teacher… 👀”
  You: “Did they recognize you? 🤣🤣”
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Convey your shock with 👀, 😲, or 🫢. Did someone just drop a bombshell in the group chat using the 👀 emoji? Drop a 👀, 😲, or 🫢 to show some jaw-dropping solidarity.
- Them: “I’m in NYC and I think I just passed Hugh Jackman on the street 👀👀”
  You: “No way!! 😲😲 Give him my best, LOL”
- Them: “Did you guys hear that Jeff and Kayla broke up? 👀”
  You: “Whaaa? But they’ve been dating forever 🫢👀”
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Celebrate exciting news with 👏 or 🎉. A friend or loved one drops a bit of good news into the chat with a 👀 to keep things subtle. Who says that you have to keep things subtle, though? Send a friendly 👏 or 🎉 to let them know that you’re rooting for them.
- Them: “So… my pregnancy test has 2 lines on it… 👀”
  You: “OMG congratulations!!! 🎉🎉🎉”
- Them: “Guess who just got into UCLA 👀”
  You: Ahhh congrats!! I’m so proud of you 👏👏”

Section 4 of 4:

👀 (eyes) Emoji Alternatives

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👁️: The 👁️ can serve as a replacement for the word “saw,” like “I 👁️ that shirt at the store yesterday” or “I 👁️ him at the movie theater.” You can also use it as a replacement for the word “eye,” like “I have an 👁️ doctor appointment tomorrow.”^{[9]
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Research source} If you’re feeling extra playful, you might send a friend a couple of 👁️👁️ to say “I see you” or “I’m watching you.”
- A popular spinoff of the 👁️ emoji is the “eyes with lips face,” or 👁️👄👁️. This emoji combo can represent a lot of different things, but it often means “it is what it is.”^{[10]
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👁‍🗨: The 👁‍🗨 emoji was created as part of an American Ad Council campaign called “I Am A Witness.” The 👁‍🗨 emoji’s design revolves around the importance of speaking up, and encourages students to speak up when they notice bullying happening around them.^{[11]
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Research source} Over time, this emoji has come to represent speaking out against harassment in all its forms.^{[12]
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- “Don’t be afraid to speak up. 👁‍🗨 Your voice matters!”
- “If you see something, say something 👁‍🗨”
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🧿: The 🧿 emoji represents the Nazar amulet, a special protective talisman that directly counteracts the “evil eye.”^{[13]
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Research source} You can use it to add an extra layer of protection to a message or caption you’ve written about a special person in your life. Some people use 🧿 to express their well-wishes and hopes, too.^{[14]
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- “My girlfriend means the entire world to me 🧿”
- “Happy New Year! Wishing you all health and wealth in the coming year 🧿”
- Since the Nazar amulet has a deep cultural history, emoji enthusiasts advise against using it as a meaningless, colorful addition to your photo captions and posts.