stared; staring
1
: to look fixedly often with wide-open eyes
He just sat and stared out the window.
—often used with atThey stared at the scene in disbelief.
2
: to show oneself conspicuously
The error stared from the page.
3
1
: to have an effect on by staring
2
: to look at with a searching or earnest gaze
stared him up and down
starer
noun
see also:
Examples of stare in a Sentence
Verb
She stared out the window.
His mother told him not to stare.
Noun
They looked at me with accusing stares.
caught the child's wide-eyed stare on film
Recent Examples on the Web
Ben Travers, IndieWire, 15 June 2026
Most passengers spend a week living inside the ship, not staring at it from shore.
—David Nikel, Forbes.com, 14 June 2026
Assistant Sports Editor, Los Angeles Times, 11 June 2026
The beloved Jack Russell Terrier, known for his hard stare, often played the straight dog to the neurotic Frasier (Kelsey Grammer) and Niles (David Hyde).
—Camille Perri, PEOPLE, 10 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for stare
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Verb
Regrets are common enough after lives are lost — when the cost of conflict is staring you right in the face, dead-eyed and countless — and yet this specific contrition persists long before the ships crash, the arrows fly, and the dragons roar.
—Ben Travers, IndieWire, 15 June 2026
Most passengers spend a week living inside the ship, not staring at it from shore.
—David Nikel, Forbes.com, 14 June 2026
Noun
In the top of the 7th, Dodgers pitcher Zack Greinke hits the first batter, Miguel Montero, in the back, prompting both benches to empty, although only stares are exchanged.
—Assistant Sports Editor, Los Angeles Times, 11 June 2026
The beloved Jack Russell Terrier, known for his hard stare, often played the straight dog to the neurotic Frasier (Kelsey Grammer) and Niles (David Hyde).
—Camille Perri, PEOPLE, 10 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for stare
Cite this Entry
“Stare.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/stare. Accessed 16 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
stare
1 of 2 verb
ˈsta(ə)r 
ˈste(ə)r
stared; staring
: to look hard and long often with wide-open eyes
stare at a stranger
starer
noun
stare
2 of 2 noun
: the act or an instance of staring
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