stare

verb

ˈster 

stared; staring

intransitive verb

1

: to look fixedly often with wide-open eyes

He just sat and stared out the window.

—often used with at

They stared at the scene in disbelief.

2

: to show oneself conspicuously

The error stared from the page.

3

of hair : to stand on end : bristle

also : to appear rough and lusterless

transitive verb

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:

stare one in the face

Synonyms of stare

• gaze
• gawk

Examples of stare in a Sentence

She stared out the window.

His mother told him not to stare.

Recent Examples on the Web

The two appear to stare at one another for a period of time before the train arrives, according to surveillance video and comments made by MARTA Police Chief Scott Kreher. —Irene Wright, USA Today, 8 June 2026

After a perfect drive on 18, Korda took the walk that so many champions have taken, strolling up Riviera’s famed 18th fairway, staring at the overflow crowd sitting around the green that was waiting to cheer her victory. —Bob Buttitta, Daily News, 8 June 2026

After four wins on the trot, the young Mercedes driver was staring at the likelihood of a fifth. —Jonathan M. Gitlin, ArsTechnica, 8 June 2026

The Knicks, staring basketball death in eye-to-eye, closed the third quarter on a 25-11 run. —Kristian Winfield, New York Daily News, 4 June 2026

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Old English starian; akin to Old High German starēn to stare, Greek stereos solid, Lithuanian starinti to stiffen

First Known Use

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1

Phrases Containing stare

• blank stare
• fix one's eyes/gaze/stare on/upon
• look/shoot/stare daggers at
• stare at (someone)
• stare daggers
• stare decisis
• stare down
• stare/gaze (off) into space
• stare one in the face
• stare out
• stare (someone) in the eye(s)
• stare (someone) in the face

Rhymes for stare

• air
• ayre
• bahr
• bare
• blare
• care
• chair
• claire
• ere
• err
• eyre
• fair

Kids 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