Download Article
Download Article
So a woman caught your eye from across the room and you really want to go talk to her, but how can you tell if she’s interested? Just by reading female body language , you can easily determine whether a woman wants to get to know you or just be left alone. Even though every woman flirts a little differently, there are still a lot of common signs that you can look for to know how she’s feeling. Keep reading to learn how you can read the cues in a woman’s body language so you know if she’s flirting or not.
Things You Should Know
- If a woman glances in your direction, makes prolonged eye contact, flips her hair, or smiles at you, it could be a sign she wants to chat. Try making your move!
- A woman is usually flirting with you if she’s mimicking your movements, leaning into your conversation, quickly blinking her eyes, or lightly touching you.
- ​​If she turns to look somewhere else, frowns, or tries to move away from you, then those are signs a woman isn’t interested.
Steps
-
She quickly glances in your direction. When a woman enters a room, she might dart her eyes to quickly check everyone out. Try to notice if she ever sneaks a peek in your direction. It could be a sign she’s interested if she catches your eye. [1] X Research source
- If a woman looks at you from over her shoulder, she's being more seductive and playful toward you with her body language. [2] X Research source
-
She holds eye contact with you. While she might glance from time to time to check you out, a longer stare is a better signal that you’ve captured her attention. When you see her peering your way, match her gaze to see how she reacts. If she holds eye contact for a few seconds before looking away, it’s a really good cue that she wants to get to know you better. [3] X Trustworthy Source Science Direct Online archive of peer-reviewed research on scientific, technical and medical topics Go to source
- If you’re sitting close enough to see her pupils, check if they’re dilated. When a woman has dilated eyes, it’s a surefire sign she’s attracted to you. [4] X Trustworthy Source PubMed Central Journal archive from the U.S. National Institutes of Health Go to source
- Reader Poll: We asked 1355 wikiHow readers to tell us what the clearest indicator was that a girl liked them, and 50% said prolonged eye contact. [Take Poll] Every girl is different (and you shouldn’t assume she likes you unless she says so), but this could be a strong sign that she’s interested!
Advertisement -
She does a head toss or hair flip. When you’re checking her out, see if the woman tilts her face up and tosses her head back. Alternatively, she may run her fingers through her hair and flip it to the side of her head. Either way, there’s a good chance that she’s trying to get your attention with her exaggerated movements. [5] X Research source
-
She exposes her neck or inner wrist. A woman may push her hair behind her ear to show you her neck, or turn her hands toward you so you can see the insides of her wrists. Both of these moves are sensual signals that she’s vulnerable and wants you to come chat with her. [6] X Research source
- A woman might do this from across the room or when she's having a conversation with you. If she brushes her hair away from her ear when you’re talking, it may just mean she’s trying to hear you better.
-
She fidgets with her hair or outfit. A woman may “preen” herself once you’ve seen her to make sure she’s looking her best. She may smooth out her clothes, adjust her jewelry, or fix her hair to signal that she knows you’re watching and wants you to check her out more. [7] X Research source
- She may also fidget with the things around her, like tracing around the rim of her glass or picking at a napkin.
-
She smiles at you. She might start off with a small, coy smile from across the room when you make eye contact with each other. If you keep catching each other’s eye, she may switch to a bigger flirtatious smile to signal that she’s really interested and excited by thought of chatting with you. [8] X Research source
- A half smile without showing teeth might mean that a woman is just being friendly. Watch her other body language to see if she’s really interested in you.
-
She moves closer to you. You see the woman from across the room and then the next time you see her, she’s a few steps closer. That’s a great sign that she’s trying to talk to you and wants to get your attention. See if she keeps moving in your direction, and try to strike up a conversation with her if she keeps approaching you. [9] X Research source
Advertisement
-
She has an open and relaxed posture. When a woman keeps her arms at her sides and turns toward you, she’s telling you that she feels at ease and comfortable around you. Notice if her shoulders look relaxed or if she seems tense, which could mean that she’s starting to feel uncomfortable. [10] X Research source
- If you’re in a place playing music, she may sway along to the music so you notice her body.
-
She leans in closer to you. A woman who’s flirting with you will try to get closer to show that she’s paying attention and interested in what you have to say. She’ll lean her upper body forward while you’re chatting to signal her interest to you. [11] X Expert Source Sarah Schewitz, PsyD
Licensed Psychologist Expert Interview. 15 April 2019. -
She mirrors your movements. When a woman is attracted to you, she’ll copy some of your hand movements and your gestures. Compare your body language to hers or try doing some expressive hand movements to see if she matches your energy. [12] X Research source
- Mirroring movements can also happen between good friends, so be careful not to get confused feelings if you and your best friend do the same thing.
-
She quickly blinks her eyes . While holding eye contact is a good sign a woman is into you, it’s another good sign if she blinks a lot when she’s talking to you. She may not even recognize that she’s doing it, but it could be a signal that she’s got butterflies in her stomach and she’s excited to chat with you. [13] X Research source
-
She nods her head when you talk. If you’re holding a conversation, women will nod along and urge you to keep talking so they can learn more about you. She wants you to know that she’s flirting and interested in what you have to say, so she’ll give you all of her attention. [14] X Research source
- If she laughs at your jokes, it’s a really good sign that she’s flirting with you.
-
She touches her hair or body. Check if the woman rubs at her neck, thighs, or face when you’re checking her out or chatting with her. It could be a sign that she has the desire to be touched and she's inviting you to break the touch barrier . [15] X Research source
-
She licks or bites her lips. If a woman licks or bites her lips, she might be teasing and letting you know she’s thinking about kissing you. She might not want you to make a big move right away, but she wants to let you know that she likes you and may be interested once she gets to know you more. [16] X Research source
- Some people lightly lick their lips right before they talk, so it may not mean that a woman is into you.
-
She makes physical contact with you. A woman may “accidentally” brush her hand against your arm or your leg, or she may put her hand on your shoulder when she’s chatting with you. When she breaks the touch barrier, she’s letting you know that she feels really comfortable around you and that she’s feeling fun and flirty. [17] X Trustworthy Source PubMed Central Journal archive from the U.S. National Institutes of Health Go to source
- Try lightly touching her back to let her know that you’re interested in her too.
Advertisement
-
She looks somewhere else when you catch her gaze. If you check out a woman and she immediately darts her eyes away from you, she doesn’t want to engage in a conversation. She might look toward one of her friends, an exit, or down towards her feet to signal that she’d rather be left alone for now. [18] X Research source
- If she turns away as you start to approach her, then the woman would rather not chat.
-
She stops smiling or frowns. When a woman quickly changes her expression when she sees you or as she’s talking, she’s probably not interested in anything at the moment. It could mean she’s uncomfortable or just doesn’t want to chat right now. [19] X Expert Source Sarah Schewitz, PsyD
Licensed Psychologist Expert Interview. 15 April 2019.- If you said something that made her upset, apologize for what you said right away to try saving the conversation.
-
She crosses her arms. When a woman crosses her arms in front of her chest, her body language says she’s closed off toward conversations. She probably doesn’t want to engage with anyone, so it’s best if you just leave her be. [20] X Research source
- She may also turn her body away from you to signal that she’s not interested.
-
She pulls away when you make physical contact. If you try getting closer and she backs away, she doesn’t want to be touched right now. She may lean backward or step further away as you get into her personal space to let you know that she’s uncomfortable and needs some room. [21] X Research source
- If a woman asks you for more space, show her respect and listen to her so she feels more comfortable.
Advertisement
Expert Q&A
Search
-
QuestionWhat are the signs a woman isn't interested in you?Sarah Schewitz, Psy.D. is a licensed clinical psychologist by the California Board of Psychology with over 10 years of experience. She received her Psy.D. from the Florida Institute of Technology in 2011. She is the founder of Couples Learn, an online psychology practice helping couples and individuals improve and change their patterns in love and relationships.If she stops smiling or tries to turn away from you, then she probably doesn't want to keep talking.
Ask a Question
200 characters left
Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered.
Submit
Advertisement
Video
Tips
- It’s okay if you accidentally misread a woman’s body language every now and then. It’s bound to happen, so just apologize and respectfully move on.Thanks
Tips from our Readers
The advice in this section is based on the lived experiences of wikiHow readers like you. If you have a helpful tip you’d like to share on wikiHow, please submit it in the field below.
- If a woman you're interested in tries to look away when you make eye contact but keeps glancing back at you, it's a sign she's attracted but maybe a little shy. You may notice this happen when the girl you're with tries to pretend she's looking at something else but can't resist sneaking peeks at you. It's a good sign if she lights up when she catches you looking back.
- You may notice that sometimes a woman who crosses her arms could still be interested. Pay attention to her facial expression — if she's grinning or smiling as she crosses her arms, she could just be feeling nervous or shy rather than closed off. Focus on reading her whole body language rather than just one gesture.
- As a girl myself, I know we sometimes flirt by looking away when you catch us staring. We want you to know we're interested but get shy about holding eye contact. If you like her too, flirt back subtly without going overboard. And if you're not interested, let her down easy.
- If a girl finds excuses to be near you, like sitting right next to you when there's plenty of space, it shows she wants to get closer. Try glancing her way to see if she's sneaking looks at you. It could mean she hopes you'll make the first move.
- Your scent and hygiene can make a big impression. Keep yourself clean with a subtle, pleasant fragrance like sandalwood. Women notice when a guy smells amazing, so it can give you an edge. Just don't overdo cologne.
Submit a Tip
All tip submissions are carefully reviewed before being published
Name
Please provide your name and last initial
Thanks for submitting a tip for review!
Advertisement
Warnings
- Avoid coming on too strong or pushing a woman’s boundaries when she doesn’t seem interested since it will make her feel even more uncomfortable.Thanks
Advertisement
References
- ↑ https://www.betterhelp.com/advice/body-language/18-examples-of-female-body-language/
- ↑ https://youtu.be/m7QwkuVIwhY?t=566
- ↑ https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0191886921002737
- ↑ https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3411709/
- ↑ https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/the-attraction-doctor/201706/11-key-flirting-techniques-women
- ↑ https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/cutting-edge-leadership/202107/the-9-primary-signals-flirtation
- ↑ https://westsidetoastmasters.com/resources/book_of_body_language/chap15.html
- ↑ https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/cutting-edge-leadership/202204/how-men-and-women-flirt-body-language
- ↑ https://youtu.be/nYudSzc3_ac?t=397
- ↑ https://www.scienceofpeople.com/body-language-examples/
- ↑ Sarah Schewitz, PsyD. Licensed Psychologist. Expert Interview. 15 April 2019.
- ↑ https://www.researchgate.net/publication/240295184_Cyber-Flirting_An_Examination_of_Men%27s_and_Women%27s_Flirting_Behaviour_Both_Offline_and_on_the_Internet
- ↑ https://youtu.be/_Y8WD6PEmNA?t=243
- ↑ https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/the-attraction-doctor/201706/11-key-flirting-techniques-women
- ↑ https://www.scienceofpeople.com/female-body-language/
- ↑ https://youtu.be/_Y8WD6PEmNA?t=257
- ↑ https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6701824/
- ↑ https://www.glamour.com/gallery/the-secret-signals-your-body-language-sends-to-men
- ↑ Sarah Schewitz, PsyD. Licensed Psychologist. Expert Interview. 15 April 2019.
- ↑ https://www.scienceofpeople.com/female-body-language/
- ↑ https://www.scienceofpeople.com/female-body-language/
About This Article
Article Summary
X
If you think a woman might be flirting with you, pay attention to her body language. A woman who is attracted to you may look your way often and let her gaze linger on you for a few seconds before glancing away. When you make eye contact, check if she smiles at you, tosses her hair, or fiddles with her outfit or accessories, since these can all be signs of interest. Try going up to her and see how she reacts. If she’s into you, she’ll probably turn toward you and smile. As you interact with her, look for relaxed, open body language. She might lean in close or even break the touch barrier by putting her hand on your arm or shoulder. You may also notice her mirroring your body language—for instance, see if she touches her hair after you touch yours, or if she crosses her legs when you do. A woman who isn’t interested in flirting may avoid making eye contact, turn away from you, or use closed-off body language, such as crossing her arms in front of her chest. She might also move away if you try to get too close. If you don’t think she’s into you, or if she says “no,” respect her boundaries and back off. For more tips, including how to recognize if a woman is flirting with you by her laughter, read on!
Did this summary help you?
Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 4,751,105 times.
Reader Success Stories
- "Yes guys! wikiHow is really a helpful place! It's the place where we start to create our own life.Thanks to the person who thought about this.Thank you very much! Keep inspiring us!" ..." more
Advertisement
"Yes guys! wikiHow is really a helpful place! It's the place where we start to create our own life.Thanks to the person who thought about this.Thank you very much! Keep inspiring us!"
..."
more
"I love a girl, but I didn't know whether she loves me or not. After seeing some of these signs in her, it's confirmed that she loves me. Thanks, wikiHow."
..."
more
"All these tips just made me smile, I find it very helpful and kinda funny. I love it, keep up inspiring us."
"Very nice and handy info for beginners and unexperienced men."
"I date a lot, so it was over all a good refresher."
