squint
/skwɪnt/verb, noun, adjective
squint is spelled S-Q-U-I-N-T: 6 letters and one syllable. It appears about once in every 2 million words in written English, the 36,998th most frequent word form (wordfreq, 2021 data). As a verb, squint means “To look with the eyes partly closed, as in bright sunlight, or as a threatening expression” (English Wiktionary, September 2026).
How many letters and syllables are in squint?
| Letters | 6: S-Q-U-I-N-T |
|---|---|
| Syllables | 1 (from its American pronunciation) |
| In writing | about once in every 2 million words; the 36,998th most frequent word form |
| Wrong spellings searched | none measured in search |
Sources: letters and syllables from the English Wiktionary's hyphenation or pronunciation and the CMU Pronouncing Dictionary; written frequency: wordfreq 3.1 (a 2021 snapshot of Wikipedia, subtitles, news, books, web text and social media).
How common is squint?
Squint appears about once in every 2 million words in written English, the 36,998th most frequent word form in the list.
Source: written frequency: wordfreq 3.1 (a 2021 snapshot of Wikipedia, subtitles, news, books, web text and social media).
How do you pronounce squint?
- /skwɪnt/
Squint has one syllable (counted from its American pronunciation in the CMU Pronouncing Dictionary).
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract). Recordings: LL-Q1860_(eng)-Vealhurl-squint.wav, Wikimedia Commons (author and licence on each file's page).
Forms of squint
- squints present, singular, he/she/it, plural
- squinting participle, present
- squinted participle, past
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract).
What does squint mean?
The meanings the English Wiktionary records, quoted as written there (source below).
verb
- 1
To look with the eyes partly closed, as in bright sunlight, or as a threatening expression.
The children squinted to frighten each other.
- 2
To look or glance sideways.
- 3
To look with, or have eyes that are turned in different directions; to suffer from strabismus.
- 4
To have an indirect bearing, reference, or implication; to have an allusion to, or inclination towards, something.
- 5
ScotlandTo be not quite straight, off-centred; to deviate from a true line; to run obliquely.
- 6
To turn to an oblique position; to direct obliquely.
to squint an eye
- 7
Look askance.
Congress clearly is squinting at the prospect of increased funding for the program.
noun
- 1
An expression in which the eyes are partly closed.
- 2
The look of eyes which are turned in different directions, as in strabismus.
He looks handsome although he's got a slight squint.
- 3
informalA quick or sideways glance; a short look; a peep.
- 4
A hagioscope.
- 5
The angle by which the transmission signal is offset from the normal of a phased array antenna.
- 6
An opening, often arched, through an internal wall of a church, providing an oblique view of the altar.
adjective
- 1
Looking obliquely; having the vision distorted.
- 2
Scotlandaskew, not level
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract).
Squint in Spanish, French, German and Portuguese
| Language | Words |
|---|---|
| French | plisser les yeux , loucher , louvoyer , plissement des yeux , strabisme , coup d'oeil |
| German | blinzeln, die Augen zusammenkneifen , schielen , Schielen , Strabismus |
| Portuguese | semicerrar os olhos , olhar de soslaio , vesguice, estrabismo , vesguear |
| Spanish | entornar los ojos, entrecerrar los ojos , mirar de soslayo , estrabismo , bizquear |
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract). Translations are Wiktionary's, by sense; a linked word has its own PlainSpell page.
Where does squint come from?
Derived from asquint (“obliquely, with a sidelong glance”).
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract).