Definition of 'stare'

Word Frequency

stare

(stɛər )

Word forms: stares, staring, stared

1. intransitive verb

If you stare at someone or something, you look at them for a long time.

Tamara stared at him in disbelief, shaking her head.

Ben continued to stare out the window.

Synonyms: gaze, look, goggle, watch More Synonyms of stare

See stare sb in the face

Video: pronunciation of
stare

stare in American English

(stɛr )

verb intransitiveWord forms: stared or ˈstaring

to gaze or look steadily with eyes wide open, as in fear, admiration, wonder, incomprehension, etc.

2. Rare

to stand out conspicuously

staring bones

to stand on end, as hair

verb transitive

to look fixedly at

to stare a person up and down

to affect in a given way by staring

to stare someone into confusion

noun

the act of staring; steady or vacant look or gaze

Idioms:

stare down

stare someone in the face

Derived forms

starer (ˈstarer)

noun

Word origin

ME staren < OE starian, akin to ON stara < Gmc *stara-, having fixed eyes, rigid < IE base *(s)ter-, rigid, stiff > stark, Gr strēnēs, hard

Word Frequency

stare in American English

(stɛər) (verb stared, staring)

intransitive verb

to gaze fixedly and intently, esp. with the eyes wide open

to be boldly or obtrusively conspicuous

The bright modern painting stares out at you in the otherwise conservative gallery

3. (of hair, feathers, etc.)

to stand on end; bristle

transitive verb

to stare at

to stare a person up and down

to effect or have a certain effect on by staring

to stare one out of countenance

6. See stare down

7. See stare one in the face

noun

a staring gaze; a fixed look with the eyes wide open

The banker greeted him with a glassy stare

Derived forms

starer

noun

staringly

adverb

Word origin

[bef. 900; ME staren, OE starian; c. D staren, G starren, ON stara; akin to stark, starve]

Word Frequency

stare in British English 1

(stɛə )

verb

1. (intransitive; often foll by at)

to look or gaze fixedly, often with hostility or rudeness

2. (intransitive)

(of an animal's fur, bird's feathers, etc) to stand on end because of fear, ill health, etc

3. (intransitive)

to stand out as obvious; glare

4. See stare one in the face

noun

the act or an instance of staring

Derived forms

starer (ˈstarer)

noun

Word origin

Old English starian; related to Old Norse stara, Old High German starēn to stare, Greek stereos stiff, Latin consternāre to confuse

Word Frequency

stare in British English 2

(stɛə )

noun

dialect

a starling

Word origin

Old English stær

Examples of 'stare' in a sentence
stare

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Instead they stare ahead with confused looks on their faces.We stood for an hour staring in disbelief.In many of our hospitals and care homes people are staring into space.You could just see his staring eyes.Those who stared longest were more willing to share a toy in tests.These are what you will stand and stare at.We were really staring into the abyss.He stared straight ahead as the guilty verdicts were read out.Some of us just stared in disbelief.We sat there on the sofa just staring at one another.