English Reference

Word

gazing

Phoneticsgaz·ing

US/ˈɡeɪzɪŋ/

UK/ɡˈeɪzɪŋ/

Definition

v. looking at something for a long time, usually because it is beautiful or because you are thinking deeply.

v. looking steadily and intently at something, often in admiration, surprise, or thought. Present participle of 'gaze'.

Examples

“She is gazing at the stars from her balcony.”

“The tourists spent the entire afternoon gazing at the ancient ruins, mesmerized by the scale of the architecture.”

“While the philosopher sat by the window gazing at the falling snow, he found the quiet isolation necessary for completing his final manuscript.”

Examples

simple

“She is gazing at the stars from her balcony.”

contextual

“The tourists spent the entire afternoon gazing at the ancient ruins, mesmerized by the scale of the architecture.”

complex

“While the philosopher sat by the window gazing at the falling snow, he found the quiet isolation necessary for completing his final manuscript.”

Usage

Intransitive; almost always followed by the preposition 'at'.

Pitfall

He was gazing the painting.

He was gazing at the painting.

Gazing is an intransitive verb and requires the preposition 'at' before the object.

Real-World Examples

“Buenaventura, Colombia – Lorena Hipis sits in her living room, gazing emptily into the kitchen.”
Al Jazeera · 15 Aug 2026
“Gazing up at daytime clouds will definitely do the trick.”
National Geographic · 8 May 2025

This entry

Level
B2 · Upper Intermediate
Frequency
Frequent
Updated

Scan code

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English Reference