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.

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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

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noun

1. the act or an instance of staring

stare ² British  

/ stɛə /

noun

1. dialect a starling

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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

While I’m keeping the app option in my back pocket for later, we decided to go analog for our first budgeting rodeo by staring down our raw bank statements.

From MarketWatch

“Tell ya what,” Uncle Max added, staring out at the stretch of our property.

From Literature

“Stop staring at him and pay attention. Coach will be peeved if you don’t know the drill when we get in the pool. Keep your eye on the prize, okay?”

From Literature

Clare plucked one from the air and examined the face of the old green human staring back.

From Literature

It was like staring at someone doing an impersonation that was one part Lt.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• beam
• gawk
• glare
• look
• peer