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 traditional media business has been staring at these multiple roads for years now, and none of them are anywhere near as bucolic as Frost’s woods. Howard Homonoff, Forbes, 4 Nov. 2024 By then, after so many years staring at a sideways world, everything had started to appear off-kilter. Joseph Bien-Kahn, Rolling Stone, 3 Nov. 2024
Noun
On the other hand, a dog's stare can sometimes signal discomfort or stress. Nina Turner, Newsweek, 29 Oct. 2024 The stares, people pulling and touching you, photographing you. Reed Putman, CNN, 28 Oct. 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 21 Nov. 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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