gaze

American  

[geyz] / geɪz /

verb (used without object)

gazed, gazing

1. to look steadily and intently, as with great curiosity, interest, pleasure, or wonder.

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noun

1. a steady or intent look.

2. Heraldry. at gaze, (of a deer or deerlike animal) represented as seen from the side with the head looking toward the spectator.

   a stag at gaze.

gaze British  

/ ɡeɪz /

verb

1. (intr) to look long and fixedly, esp in wonder or admiration

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noun

1. a fixed look; stare

Related Words

Gaze, stare, gape suggest looking fixedly at something. To gaze is to look steadily and intently at something, especially at that which excites admiration, curiosity, or interest: to gaze at scenery, at a scientific experiment. To stare is to gaze with eyes wide open, as from surprise, wonder, alarm, stupidity, or impertinence: to stare unbelievingly or rudely. Gape is a word with uncomplimentary connotations; it suggests open-mouthed, often ignorant or rustic wonderment or curiosity: to gape at a tall building or a circus parade.

Other Word Forms

• gazeless adjective
• gazer noun
• gazingly adverb
• outgaze verb (used with object)
• ungazing adjective

Etymology

Origin of gaze

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English gasen; compare Norwegian, Swedish (dialect) gasa “to look”

Example Sentences

He sat directly across from me, fixed me with a professional gaze, and said, “I’ve got the results of your MRI. There’s a lesion on your hip.”

From Slate • Mar. 29, 2026

Tour boats took curious sightseers to gaze at North Koreans cycling along the Yalu river separating the two countries or cleaning boats on the bank.

From Barron's • Mar. 29, 2026

A majority, however, were not ideologically driven: “They simply conformed, did what was asked of them, averted their gaze from any unpleasantness.”

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 13, 2026

Not only has Gyllenhaal taken the reins from cinema’s patriarchal collective, but she’s implemented a distinctly feminine gaze, as complex and fascinating as the social implications tucked away between the lines of Shelley’s original text.

From Salon • Mar. 8, 2026

Clare leaned over the table and met her gaze.

From "The Undead Fox of Deadwood Forest" by Aubrey Hartman