as in stared
to look long and hard in wonder or surprise
couldn't help gawking at the exotically dressed guests in the hotel lobby
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Recent Examples of gawked
They’re presented as endearing surprises of nature and life, celebrated rather than gawked at.
—
Lucy Notarantonio, MSNBC Newsweek, 6 Dec. 2025
Drilling for progress As the rest of us gawked at Maye’s pinpoint accuracy on his 55-yard completion to Rhamondre Stevenson in the third quarter of last Sunday’s win — the longest of his career — Maye’s position coach smiled for a different reason.
—Andrew Callahan, Boston Herald, 19 Sep. 2025
Lucy Notarantonio, MSNBC Newsweek, 6 Dec. 2025
Drilling for progress As the rest of us gawked at Maye’s pinpoint accuracy on his 55-yard completion to Rhamondre Stevenson in the third quarter of last Sunday’s win — the longest of his career — Maye’s position coach smiled for a different reason.
—Andrew Callahan, Boston Herald, 19 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for gawked
Verb
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LeBron James stared stoically at the video board.—
Assistant Sports Editor,
Los Angeles Times,
29 Jan. 2026
-
Near the launch site, members of the crowd shrieked or stared in disbelief.—
Miami Herald Archives,
Miami Herald,
27 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Accentuating her features with her signature brown smoky eyeshadow, matte mauve lipstick, and a pink flush on her cheekbones, Kylie puffed on a cigarette and gazed into the camera’s lens as the shot faded to black.—
Lara Walsh,
InStyle,
28 Jan. 2026
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In another shot, Victoria gazed lovingly at David while the pair were also photographed with Romeo and Cruz, and their respective girlfriends, Kim Turnbull and Jackie Apostel.—
Escher Walcott,
PEOPLE,
27 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Gawked.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/gawked. Accessed 3 Feb. 2026.
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