stare

1 of 3

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

stare

2 of 3

noun (1)

: the act or an instance of staring

a blank stare

starer

3 of 3

noun (2)

star·​er

ˈsta(a)rə(r), 

ˈster-

plural -s

: one that stares

Synonyms of stare

Verb

• gaze
• gawk

Noun (1)

• gaze

Examples of stare in a Sentence

Verb

She stared out the window.

His mother told him not to stare.

Noun (1)

They looked at me with accusing stares.

caught the child's wide-eyed stare on film

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

Bereaved mother Debra Robinson stared at the accused before bursting into tears in the courtroom. — CBS News, 8 Sep. 2026

Once there, staring at the devastation, there was no denying the reality of death. — Torie Bosch, STAT, 5 Sep. 2026

Noun

Pattinson sure is scary, though, at one point framed with a Kubrick stare but here with his head and eyes tilted downward as a river of rain washes over a window and down on the night. — Ryan Lattanzio, IndieWire, 5 Sep. 2026

That image of Spears in jaw-dropping form, wielding a magnetic stare, and commanding not just the stage but the entire world watching at home defined the singer’s peak as a performer. — Bianca Betancourt, CNN Money, 4 Sep. 2026

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 (1)

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 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