stare

1 of 2

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

stare

2 of 2

noun

: the act or an instance of staring

a blank stare

Phrases

stare one in the face

1

: to look directly into the eyes of (someone)

I stared him in the face and told him to leave.

2

: to be undeniably and forcefully evident or apparent

The solution was staring me in the face.

Synonyms of stare

Verb

• gaze
• gawk

Noun

• gaze

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

Verb

When the facial recognition dispensers were introduced at the Temple of Heaven Park at the time, visitors were required to stare into the machine for three seconds before a sheet of toilet paper, around nine feet long, would be dispensed. —Desiree Anello, PEOPLE, 25 Nov. 2025

These cat-eye torties by @_citre are like staring into a roaring fire, with bright orange ember tones and ashy shades scattered across the nail. —Jacqueline Kilikita, Refinery29, 24 Nov. 2025

Noun

Transitioning away from family has its benefits and drawbacks, but most of us eventually have to face the challenge of walking through the front door again for the first time as our true selves, seeing familiar faces and fielding uncomfortable stares. —Sydney Bauer, Them., 21 Nov. 2025

Again a kind of awareness, my eyes focused, saw Oliver walking slowly toward his room, always away—my wide stare without comprehension hurt. —Literary Hub, 19 Nov. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Verb

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

First Known Use

Verb

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

Noun

1553, in the meaning defined above

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 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