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

His suns stare curiously from one side of a page spread to another and his stacks of hay worriedly study the horizon, while his one-eyed stools and one-eyed fenceposts pop up like eager cyclopses. — Casey Cep, New Yorker, 7 July 2026

No foul was assessed in real time, and the red card was awarded only after the official stared at a slow-motion replay. — Jonathan Lemire, The Atlantic, 7 July 2026

Noun

His trademark smirk and knowing stare are now feared by any opponent up against Norway, but don’t be fooled into thinking Haaland isn’t serious about his career. — Ben Church, CNN Money, 11 July 2026

Weston McKennie slumped in a chair, mind spinning, stare blank, while Matt Freese wandered and Tim Ream pondered the end. — Henry Bushnell, New York Times, 7 July 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