Staring Definition & Meaning

Definition

Other Word Forms

Etymology

Examples

Synonyms staring American [stair-ing] / ˈstɛər ɪŋ /

adjective

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

   Standing in front of Jane’s staring face, Ravi lifted the conch shell above his head and smashed it into a hundred pieces on the floor.

2. boldly, inescapably, or obnoxiously conspicuous; glaring.

   Whenever I dwell on my own shortcomings, they begin to seem mild and harmless, not at all like the staring defects in other people's characters.

adverb

1. Chiefly British. glaringly or conspicuously; thoroughly (often preceded bystark ).

   This "borrow and spend" policy is stark staring bonkers.

Other Word Forms

• staringly adverb

Etymology

Origin of staring

star(e) ( def. ) + -ing 2 ( def. )

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.

Lloyd wouldn’t meet my eye, though I was staring a hole in him.

From Literature

As night fell and the cold came on, he sat staring into the fire.

From Literature

Someone at the end of the shelves, fidgeting and staring.

From Literature

Her eyes staring straight ahead, Helen jiggles her arm so I know the brush was intentional.

From Literature

She recalls him saying: "Outside, there are also patrols everywhere, standing at every intersection, staring into your eyes. If they don't like the way you look, they stop you."

From BBC

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.