Definition

Adjective: 1. Having extremely sharp or keen eyesight: Describes a person or creature that can see very small details or objects at great distances, similar to the vision of a hawk. 2. Vigilant and observant: Used figuratively to describe someone who is very watchful, attentive, and notices everything.

Usage

The adjective "hawk-eyed" is used to describe someone's visual acuity or their general attentiveness. It typically precedes a noun. - Attributive use (before a noun): The hawk-eyed guard spotted the movement from 100 meters away. - Predicative use (after a linking verb): The editor was hawk-eyed, catching every tiny error in the manuscript.

Examples

• The hawk-eyed teacher noticed the student passing a note from across the classroom.
• Security at the museum must be hawk-eyed to prevent any theft.
• With her hawk-eyed scrutiny, she found the flaw in the complex design immediately.

Advanced Usage

• Figurative Use: Often used to describe professions requiring great attention to detail, such as editors, proofreaders, security personnel, or scouts.
  • The hawk-eyed proofreader saved the company from an embarrassing typo in the annual report.

Variants and Related Words

• Eagle-eyed (adj.): A very close synonym, also meaning having extremely sharp eyesight or being very observant.
• Sharp-sighted (adj.): Having good eyesight; perceptive.
• Keen-eyed (adj.): Having keen sight or perception.
• Lynx-eyed (adj.): Having eyesight as sharp as a lynx's; very keen-sighted. (Less common)

Synonyms

• Observant: Quick to notice things.
• Vigilant: Keeping careful watch for possible danger or difficulties.
• Perceptive: Having or showing sensitive insight.
• Sharp-eyed: Having good eyesight; quick to notice things.

Antonyms

• Myopic: Nearsighted; lacking imagination or foresight.
• Unobservant: Not observant.
• Inattentive: Not paying attention.

Related Idioms and Phrases

• To have eyes like a hawk: An idiom with the same meaning as "hawk-eyed."
  • Be careful what you do; the boss has eyes like a hawk.
• To keep a hawk eye on someone/something: To watch someone or something very closely and carefully.
  • The detective kept a hawk eye on the suspect's movements.

Adjective

1. having very keen vision
   • quick-sighted as a cat