# stare

/ˈstɛɹ/ (US) · /stˈeə/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/stare
Updated: 2026-06-20

## Senses

### 1. to look fixedly

verb · CEFR B1

to look at someone or something for a long time with your eyes wide open.

For teachers: to gaze fixedly and intently, often with wide-open eyes. Intransitive, typically taking the preposition 'at'.

- The little boy started to stare at the man's colorful hat.
- She continued to stare at the horizon long after the ship had disappeared, lost in a profound sense of melancholy.

### 3. a long look

noun · CEFR B2

a long, steady look at someone or something.

For teachers: a fixed, persistent, or intent look.

- He gave her a long, cold stare that made her feel uncomfortable.
- The professor met the student's excuse with a skeptical stare, waiting for a more plausible explanation for the missing assignment.

## Examples

- She gave him a long, cold stare.
- The child's curious stare made the stranger feel a bit uncomfortable during the bus ride.
- He met her icy stare with a calm expression, refusing to look away until she finally broke the silence and continued the meeting.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.