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

It was she, rather, who needed to be close to the little griffin, whose warmth was radiating through his soft fur and feathers, and whose eyes watched her with a steady, trusting gaze.

From Literature

The kid’s stalking through the brush along the edge of the water, gazing down with great focus.

From Literature

“I was actually really honored that the mountain lion didn’t eat me and we just had this nice long gaze into each other’s souls.”

From Los Angeles Times

“I’ll get the ball,” Ana says when she sees me gazing at the hoop, which is lower than the ones at school.

From Literature

She will never know that after she said adiós, I gazed up at the sky and asked, Will there be a next time?

From Literature