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intr.v. gazed, gaz·ing, gaz·es To look steadily, intently, and with fixed attention. n. A steady, fixed look. [Middle English gasen, probably of Scandinavian origin.] gazer n. Synonyms: gaze, stare, gape, gawk, glare1, peer1 These verbs mean to look long and intently. Gaze is often indicative of wonder, fascination, awe, or admiration: We spent the evening gazing at the stars. Stare can indicate curiosity, boldness, rudeness, or stupidity: The children stared closely at the creatures in the aquarium. Gape suggests a prolonged open-mouthed look reflecting amazement, awe, or lack of intelligence: "The room fell silent when [she] entered, the three women by the hearth gaping openly at her as if she'd sprouted a third eye in her forehead" (Kimberly Cutter). To gawk is to gape or stare foolishly or rudely: Drivers gawked at the overturned truck. To glare is to fix another with a hard, piercing stare: "While one security guard glared beneath beetling brows, the others surveyed the world with studied indifference" (Christine Lehner). To peer is to look narrowly, searchingly, and seemingly with difficulty: She peered at us through her glasses. |
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