Stare Definition & Meaning

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    • Synonyms stare American [stair] / stɛər /

    verb (used without object)

    stared, staring

    1. to gaze fixedly and intently, especially with the eyes wide open.

    2. to be boldly or obtrusively conspicuous.

      The bright modern painting stares out at you in the otherwise conservative gallery.

    3. to be patently or compellingly obvious.

      The stark, staring fact is, you can't do something with nothing.

    4. (of hair, feathers, etc.) to stick out or stand on end; bristle.

      Both male and female pheasants are rough-footed and have staring feathers around the head and neck.

    verb (used with object)

    stared, staring

    1. to stare at.

      to stare a person up and down.

    2. to effect or have a certain effect on by staring.

      They all laughed at me and stared me into silence.

    noun

    1. a staring gaze; a fixed look with the eyes wide open.

      The banker greeted him with a glassy stare.

    verb phrase

    1. stare down to cause to become uncomfortable by gazing steadily at one; overcome by staring.

      A nonsmoker at the next table tried to stare me down.

    idioms

    1. stare (something) in the face, to confront or be confronted by (something unpleasant).

      The company is staring bankruptcy in the face.

    2. stare one in the face,

      1. (especially of something undesirable) to be patently or compellingly obvious.

        Sounds like a far-fetched theory, but when the evidence is staring you in the face, you have to take notice.

      2. to be urgent or impending; be about to happen.

        The income tax deadline is staring us in the face.

    3. staring down the barrel of,

      1. having (a firearm) aimed at one, especially at close range.

        He turned his head and found himself staring down the barrel of a rifle.

      2. facing (a threat, challenging situation, or imminent disaster).

        Motorists are staring down the barrel of a major hike in the price of fuel.

    stare 1 British / stɛə /

    verb

    1. to look or gaze fixedly, often with hostility or rudeness

    2. (intr) (of an animal's fur, bird's feathers, etc) to stand on end because of fear, ill health, etc

    3. (intr) to stand out as obvious; glare

    4. to be glaringly obvious or imminent

    "Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

    noun

    1. the act or an instance of staring

    "Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012 stare 2 British / stɛə /

    noun

    1. dialect a starling

    "Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

    Related Words

    See gaze.

    Other Word Forms

    • starer noun

    Etymology

    Origin of stare

    First recorded before 900; Middle English staren, Old English starian; cognate with Dutch staren, German starren, Old Norse stara; akin to stark, starve

    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.

    How many realize that staring at screens all day can make kids literally shortsighted?

    From The Wall Street Journal

    The boy’s wide eyes stared in excitement at his hands, which quickly overflowed with presents, about eight just for him.

    From Los Angeles Times

    Defeat would mean a new year in Sydney staring down the barrel of a 5-0.

    From BBC

    On the day the money was distributed, staffers stared at their bonus letters in disbelief.

    From The Wall Street Journal

    They are staring down the barrel of relegation after taking only two points from their past five games.

    From BBC

    Related Words

    • beam
    • gawk
    • glare
    • look
    • peer

    Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

    Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.

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