gaze

[geyz]

verb (used without object)

gazed, gazing 

1. to look steadily and intently, as with great curiosity, interest, pleasure, or wonder.

noun

1. a steady or intent look.

2. Heraldry.,  at gaze, (of a deer or deerlike animal) represented as seen from the side with the head looking toward the spectator.

   a stag at gaze.

gaze

/ ɡeɪz /

verb

1. (intr) to look long and fixedly, esp in wonder or admiration

noun

1. a fixed look; stare

Other Word Forms

• gazer noun
• gazeless adjective
• gazingly adverb
• outgaze verb (used with object)
• ungazing adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of gaze¹

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English gasen; compare Norwegian, Swedish (dialect) gasa “to look”

Word History and Origins

Origin of gaze¹

C14: from Swedish dialect gasa to gape at

Synonym Study

Gaze, stare, gape suggest looking fixedly at something. To gaze is to look steadily and intently at something, especially at that which excites admiration, curiosity, or interest: to gaze at scenery, at a scientific experiment. To stare is to gaze with eyes wide open, as from surprise, wonder, alarm, stupidity, or impertinence: to stare unbelievingly or rudely. Gape is a word with uncomplimentary connotations; it suggests open-mouthed, often ignorant or rustic wonderment or curiosity: to gape at a tall building or a circus parade.

Example Sentences

Sharing a cold cucumber salad from the hotel’s in-house restaurant, they gazed across the spacious pool area with its wide platform loungers and stucco walls that perfectly matched the color of the dusty landscape beyond.

From Los Angeles Times

Mehta said that the case required him to “gaze into a crystal ball and look to the future,” something he felt was “no judge’s forte.”

From Salon

Gray’s piece will also be in dialogue with this room, calling to it from another time and place — asking viewers to turn their gaze to history, slavery, transcendence, salvation, power and so much more.

From Los Angeles Times

“I’m mentally exhausted,” Bishop said as she gazed at the row of craters where the headstones once rested.

From Los Angeles Times

He exudes charm with every gaze, and there isn’t one single line of dialogue that feels out of place or implausible.

From Salon