Brow” Meaning

The brow is the ridge above your eye where your eyebrow sits. It’s the small curved bone and the patch of skin and hair that sits on top of it.

In daily life, people say things like “raise your brow” when they’re surprised, or “furrow your brow” when they’re thinking hard. We also talk about “knitting your brow” when you’re worried, and even use the word alone: “He gave me a stern brow,” meaning a serious look.

Meaning & Usage Examples

• “She raised a brow in disbelief.”
• “His brow was furrowed while reading the email.”
• “A single bead of sweat ran down her brow in the heat.”

Context / Common Use

Most often, “brow” shows up when people describe facial expressions. It’s shorthand for how someone feels—surprise, worry, or confusion—without needing to explain the whole face.

Is “brow” the same as “eyebrow”?

Almost. “Brow” includes the ridge and the eyebrow hair together, while “eyebrow” focuses just on the hair.

Can “brow” refer to the forehead?

Sometimes, in poetic or older texts, but today it usually means the area right above the eye.