To squint means to partly close your eyes to see better or protect them from bright light. When you walk outside on a sunny day without sunglasses, you might squint to keep the glare from hurting your eyes. When you're trying to read small text on a distant sign, you might squint to bring it into focus.

Squinting happens naturally when light is too bright or when you're straining to see something clearly. Your eyelids narrow into little slits, and your face scrunches up. If you've ever tried to read something written in tiny letters, or looked hard at a distant airplane in the sky, you've probably squinted without even thinking about it.

People also squint when they're suspicious or skeptical about something. If your friend tells you an unbelievable story, you might squint at them while asking, “Really?” This kind of squinting shows doubt or careful examination, like you're studying them closely to figure out if they're telling the truth.

The word can also be a noun: a squint is the act of squinting, or the narrow-eyed look itself.