gaze

[ geyz ]
See synonyms for gaze on Thesaurus.com
verb (used without object),gazed, gaz·ing.
  1. to look steadily and intently, as with great curiosity, interest, pleasure, or wonder.

noun
  1. a steady or intent look.

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

Origin of gaze

1
First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English gasen; compare Norwegian, Swedish (dialect) gasa “to look”

synonym study For gaze

1. 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 words from gaze

  • gazeless, adjective
  • gazer, noun
  • gaz·ing·ly, adverb
  • outgaze, verb (used with object), out·gazed, out·gaz·ing.
  • un·gaz·ing, adjective

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use gaze in a sentence

  • The charcoal drops, and the prisoner, passing his hand across his eyes, gazes bewildered at his own work.

    Uncanny Tales | Various
  • The poor, tearful desire lays a pale hand on reason's lips and gazes wistfully into the mysterious abyss of the Great Silence.

    God and my Neighbour | Robert Blatchford
  • Among the works of human hands, the traveler gazes with amazement at the ponderous bulk of the pyramids.

    Gospel Philosophy | J. H. Ward
  • But she gazes beyond the salon, back into the big dining hall, where the white crepe myrtle grows.

  • The young culprit, sitting quite still under her brilliant canopy, looks about her and gazes at earth and sky.

British Dictionary definitions for gaze

gaze

/ (ɡeɪz) /


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

noun
  1. a fixed look; stare

Origin of gaze

1
C14: from Swedish dialect gasa to gape at

Derived forms of gaze

  • gazer, noun

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012