see stars

Idioms

Perceive flashing lights, especially after a blow to one's head. For example, A swinging door hit me and I really saw stars. [Late 1800s]

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

One researcher described the breakthrough as "like being able to see stars in broad daylight."

From Science Daily • Oct. 24, 2025

Is it only a matter of time until we see stars like Kylian Mbappe and Jude Bellingham following in Ramos' footsteps?

From BBC • Oct. 27, 2024

Of course, if you look in some directions in the sky, you can see stars.

From Scientific American • Oct. 19, 2023

Consaul described Harbor West Lighthouse to the BBC as “amazingly calm and serene and pretty much in the middle of the lake with 360-degree views of the water. At night you can see stars everywhere.”

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 1, 2023

They had to be well out of the city, to see stars.

From "Night Owls" by A.R. Vishny

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023