stare

1 of 2

verb

stared; staring

intransitive verb

1
: to look fixedly often with wide-open eyes
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
starer noun

stare

2 of 2

noun

: the act or an instance of staring
a blank stare
Phrases
stare one in the face
: to be undeniably and forcefully evident or apparent

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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Verb
The solar eclipse had cities around the country staring at the sky in unison. Alexandra York, Forbes, 20 Dec. 2024 In another image, a woman stares at a ruddy sculptural bust with her own features that seems to be staring back. Jacqui Palumbo, CNN, 18 Dec. 2024
Noun
Note the worldly age implied in his thousand-yard stare: Redmayne as a slightly less old man. Nicholas Quah, Vulture, 28 Nov. 2024 When visitors from United Way met her recently, Myra, in her playpen, greeted them with a curious stare. John Johnston, The Enquirer, 28 Nov. 2024 See all Example Sentences for stare 

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

Time Traveler
The first known use of stare was before the 12th century

Dictionary Entries Near stare

Cite this Entry

“Stare.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/stare. Accessed 30 Dec. 2024.

Kids Definition

stare

1 of 2 verb
ˈsta(ə)r How to pronounce stare (audio)
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

More from Merriam-Webster on stare

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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