Word
gaze
US/ˈɡeɪz/
UK/ɡˈeɪz/
Definitions
01to look steadily
B2 · Upper Intermediate Literary
v. to look at something for a long time with interest, wonder, or deep thought.
v. to look steadily and intently, as with great curiosity, interest, pleasure, or wonder. Usually intransitive and followed by the preposition 'at'.
日本語:見つめる※
Español:mirar fijamente
“She sat by the window and gazed at the stars for hours.”
“The explorers stood on the ridge and gazed across the vast, uncharted valley, overwhelmed by the sheer scale of the landscape.”
Usage
Commonly takes the preposition 'at' or 'into'.
Synonyms
02a steady look
C1 · Advanced Countable noun Literary
n. a long, steady look that shows what you are feeling or thinking.
n. a fixed, intent look or a steady act of observation. Often used to describe a look that conveys a specific emotion or power dynamic.
日本語:眼差し※
Español:mirada
“He felt her steady gaze on him as he tried to finish his work.”
“The portrait was famous for the subject's haunting gaze, which seemed to follow viewers regardless of where they stood in the gallery.”
Synonyms
Antonyms
03the male/female gaze
C1 · Advanced Countable noun Academic
n. a way of looking at people or the world from a specific perspective, often in films or art.
n. a conceptual way of looking or being looked at, particularly regarding power dynamics and objectification in media and social theory.
日本語:視線※
“The professor discussed how the 'male gaze' affects the way women are shown in movies.”
“Critical theorists often analyse how the colonial gaze shaped the ethnographic photography of the nineteenth century.”
Teaching tip
This sense is common in university-level humanities and media studies.
Synonyms
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “gaze” in context.
Verb
01. gaze in wonder
“The children gazed in wonder as the magician pulled a rabbit from his hat.”
verb + prep + noun
02. gaze into space
“Lost in a daydream, he continued to gaze into space even after I called his name.”
verb + prep + noun
03. gaze out at the ocean
“We spent the entire afternoon gazing out at the ocean from our balcony.”
verb + adv + prep + noun
Adverb
04. gaze blankly
“Exhausted by the lecture, the students just gazed blankly at the whiteboard.”
verb + adv
05. gaze intently
“The scientist gazed intently at the microscopic samples for any sign of movement.”
verb + adv
06. gaze longingly
“She stood by the window and gazed longingly at the distant mountains.”
verb + adv
07. gaze thoughtfully
“He gazed thoughtfully into the fire, weighing his options before making a decision.”
verb + adv
Real-World Examples
“Adorned in a pink robe, Marcia gazes at the viewer.” “Nudes were the product of the lusty male gaze.” Etymology
From Middle English gasen; akin to Swedish dialectal gasa and Gothic 𐌿𐍃𐌲𐌰𐌹𐍃𐌾𐌰𐌽 (usgaisjan, “to terrify”).
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Related words
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.C1 AdvancedIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.7.0–8.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 5.0–5.595–113TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.945–990
- Frequency
- Frequent
- Level
- C1 · AdvancedOxford
- Updated
- アルファベット
- 読み方の一覧 →
QR code
englishreference.com/q/gaze
※ 機械で選んだ訳語です。ネイティブスピーカーによる確認はまだです。
「日本語」 data: JMdict (EDRDG), CC BY-SA 4.0
Traducciones: Kaikki.org (Wiktionary), CC BY-SA 4.0