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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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.
Recent Examples of gawked
Locals complained tourist gawked at them or traipsed through their yards.
—
ABC News, 23 Apr. 2026
Onlookers gawked from the balconies of nearby condo towers.
—Miami Herald, 13 Apr. 2026
Still, other Coppin State runners gawked at his broad chest, bulging biceps and thick quads.
—Tyler Jett, Des Moines Register, 21 Jan. 2026
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
ABC News, 23 Apr. 2026
Onlookers gawked from the balconies of nearby condo towers.
—Miami Herald, 13 Apr. 2026
Still, other Coppin State runners gawked at his broad chest, bulging biceps and thick quads.
—Tyler Jett, Des Moines Register, 21 Jan. 2026
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for gawked
Verb
-
Everyone stared in silence at the man’s rudeness.—
Lyz Lenz,
Rolling Stone,
28 May 2026
-
The two stared each other down with security guards in between them.—
Ryan Gaydos,
FOXNews.com,
26 May 2026
Verb
-
As Will gazed at the tallest land mammals on Earth, two calves galloped playfully across the exhibit, chasing one another.—
Kendrick Calfee,
Kansas City Star,
30 May 2026
-
The star, who was previously linked to Zach Braff, smiled at the camera while a smitten Cole gazed at her.—
Lara Walsh,
InStyle,
24 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Gawked.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/gawked. Accessed 4 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
