stare
verb (used without object)
to gaze fixedly and intently, especially with the eyes wide open.
was staring
-
past progressiveof stare.past progressive
Used to describe an ongoing action or continuous state that was happening at a specific time in the past.
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.
I was staring at my 61-year-old reflection as I repeated these mantras suggested by my new therapist SuzAnn, embarrassed at the idiocy although I lived alone in a small West L.A. guesthouse.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 7, 2026
IBM’s IBM 3.72%increase; up pointing triangle board was staring down difficult news: The second quarter had been a bust.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 16, 2026
They agreed on a key point: The nation was staring down a severe shortage of electrons to drive American business forward.
From Salon ● May 9, 2026
Then, in 2004, he was staring down a five-year lease renewal on his warehouse space in Madison and decided Wisconsin was simply too cold to continue.
From Slate ● Mar. 25, 2026
A horrible, huge orange face with an evil grin was staring directly at me.
From "The World According to Humphrey" by Betty G. Birney
