gawk
verb (used without object)
to stare stupidly; gape.
were gawking
-
past progressiveof gawk.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.
One beautiful evening, a dozen people were gawking at the LAV-25 armored vehicles.
From Salon ● Sep. 25, 2025
“People were gawking at me and I looked suspicious when I had done nothing wrong,” André said in an interview, calling the experience “dehumanizing and demoralizing.”
From Seattle Times ● Oct. 11, 2022
It was November 2006, and I was a test cook at Cook’s Illustrated magazine in Brookline, Mass., when I walked over to see what my colleagues were gawking at.
From New York Times ● May 3, 2021
A recent commute took an hour longer than usual because drivers were gawking at smoke-filled hills, he said.
From New York Times ● Nov. 1, 2019
It felt like people were gawking at me, but it was two in the morning and the street was empty.
From "Educated" by Tara Westover
