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

see also:

stare one in the face

stare

2 of 2

noun

: the act or an instance of staring

a blank stare

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

In another Amsterdam photo, a pair of identical world globes, recalling Ghirri’s passion for cartography and atlases, rest on matching supports to conjure that oldest of surrealist tropes, a pair of staring eyes. —James Quandt, Artforum, 2 June 2026

Sure, there are probably supermodels, sports stars, and famous actors in your midst (don’t stare). —Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 2 June 2026

Noun

Flair watched Cargill roll out of the ring and then went into a long stare. —Ryan Gaydos, FOXNews.com, 31 May 2026

Surrounded by, among others, Secretary of State Marco Rubio and several family members, Trump stares bluntly as Swanson and Landwehr go at it. —Sean Gregory, Time, 26 May 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

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