gazed; gazing; gazes
: to fix the eyes in a steady intent look often with eagerness or studious attention
gazed out the window at the snow
gazer
noun
plural gazers
plural gazes
1
: a fixed intent look
a steady gaze
He fixed his gaze out the window.
She lowered/dropped/raised her gaze.
I met his gaze. [=I looked back at him.]
2
: the collective preferences and expectations of a usually privileged social group especially when imposed as a standard or norm on other groups
In 1973, British feminist film writer Laura Mulvey wrote a seminal essay called "Visual Pleasure and Narrative Cinema", which explored how mainstream films appealed to a male gaze—a term she coined—because the industry was dominated by men who, inevitably, constructed representations of women from a masculine point of view.—
Kerrie O'Brien
Kerrie O'BrienSo few slots are available for nonwhite writers that those who break through are sometimes themselves charged with … exaggerating elements of their culture for a white gaze; living up to the image that white writers have created for them, the easier to be packaged and sold.—Ligaya Mishan
Ligaya MishanIt looks like a gentle scene of a seaside vacation. But this painting by Berthe Morisot, perhaps the most underrated Impressionist, is a layered vision of a dawning modern age and a rare glimpse at the 19th-century female gaze.—Natasha Frost
Natasha Frost
Synonyms
Examples of gaze in a Sentence
Verb
He gazed out the window at the snow.
She gazed intently into his eyes.
Noun
She looked at him with a calm, steady gaze.
suddenly aware of her admiring gaze, he became self-conscious and uncomfortable
Recent Examples on the WebJordan Moreau, Variety, 12 Apr. 2024
Sparkling eyes gazed down from icons on the sanctuary walls.
—Robert F. Worth, The Atlantic, 10 Apr. 2024
The park’s Redwood Canopy Trail takes visitors up into the mid-canopy over aerial suspension bridges, with platforms from which to gaze out and channel your inner Swiss Family Robinson.
—Jackie Burrell, The Mercury News, 8 Apr. 2024
Totality also offers spectators a chance to gaze upon the spectacular sight with the naked eye, though proper safety glasses are still required for the rest of the time.
—USA TODAY, 8 Apr. 2024
Following totality, all tortoises gazed up at the sky.
—Jamie L. Lareau, Detroit Free Press, 8 Apr. 2024
The comet can be seen in the early evenings by gazing toward the west-northwest horizon.
—Denise Chow, NBC News, 4 Apr. 2024
Positioned a million miles from Earth, JWST is designed to peer through dust clouds and gaze at the universe in infrared, unveiling secrets that have been hidden from us until now.
—Tony Bradley, Forbes, 28 Mar. 2024
When a boom and distant gunfire pierce the calm, Mr. Adler gazes skyward and says that this is why his family remains at a temporary home two hours north, near Haifa.
—Howard Lafranchi, The Christian Science Monitor, 28 Mar. 2024
Amanda Petrusich, The New Yorker, 8 Apr. 2024
The female gaze has become more confident, affirmative, and affirming.
—Tiziana Cardini, Vogue, 5 Apr. 2024
The writer often talked about the freedom in refusing the white gaze.
—Lovia Gyarkye, The Hollywood Reporter, 3 Apr. 2024
This picture, capturing a longing gaze toward something people can only dream of, is particularly poignant in this bakery that, for the majority of Cooper’s life, was somewhat of longing gaze, and now, three daughters and two moves later, belongs to her.
—Charlotte Observer, 25 Mar. 2024
Related article How this dream-like photo challenges notions of the male gaze
Exploring the dandy persona has been a natural development for Ball, whose work needles the tension between self-identity and the performance of outward presentation.
—Colleen Kelsey, CNN, 22 Mar. 2024
Maybe your hostility stems from your conflation of the camera with the maternal gaze, the ever-present eye that threatens to obliterate your own point of view.
—Meghan O'Gieblyn, WIRED, 25 Mar. 2024
In his 2001 memoir, Doty’s gaze lingers on great paintings and ordinary household objects alike.
—Celine Nguyen, The Atlantic, 20 Mar. 2024
The basc Quartet—perhaps spurred on by the gaze of so many look-alike eyes—found the through line of Schoenberg’s personality, which is by turns impassioned, whimsical, savage, and melancholy.
—Alex Ross, The New Yorker, 11 Mar. 2024
Verb
The biggest easter egg, however, is the New Vegas skyline Hank gazes upon in the distance.
—Jordan Moreau, Variety, 12 Apr. 2024
Sparkling eyes gazed down from icons on the sanctuary walls.
—Robert F. Worth, The Atlantic, 10 Apr. 2024
The park’s Redwood Canopy Trail takes visitors up into the mid-canopy over aerial suspension bridges, with platforms from which to gaze out and channel your inner Swiss Family Robinson.
—Jackie Burrell, The Mercury News, 8 Apr. 2024
Totality also offers spectators a chance to gaze upon the spectacular sight with the naked eye, though proper safety glasses are still required for the rest of the time.
—USA TODAY, 8 Apr. 2024
Following totality, all tortoises gazed up at the sky.
—Jamie L. Lareau, Detroit Free Press, 8 Apr. 2024
The comet can be seen in the early evenings by gazing toward the west-northwest horizon.
—Denise Chow, NBC News, 4 Apr. 2024
Positioned a million miles from Earth, JWST is designed to peer through dust clouds and gaze at the universe in infrared, unveiling secrets that have been hidden from us until now.
—Tony Bradley, Forbes, 28 Mar. 2024
When a boom and distant gunfire pierce the calm, Mr. Adler gazes skyward and says that this is why his family remains at a temporary home two hours north, near Haifa.
—Howard Lafranchi, The Christian Science Monitor, 28 Mar. 2024
Noun
As the song started to play, Rogers seemed a little unsure of where to direct her gaze.
—Amanda Petrusich, The New Yorker, 8 Apr. 2024
The female gaze has become more confident, affirmative, and affirming.
—Tiziana Cardini, Vogue, 5 Apr. 2024
The writer often talked about the freedom in refusing the white gaze.
—Lovia Gyarkye, The Hollywood Reporter, 3 Apr. 2024
This picture, capturing a longing gaze toward something people can only dream of, is particularly poignant in this bakery that, for the majority of Cooper’s life, was somewhat of longing gaze, and now, three daughters and two moves later, belongs to her.
—Charlotte Observer, 25 Mar. 2024
Related article How this dream-like photo challenges notions of the male gaze
Exploring the dandy persona has been a natural development for Ball, whose work needles the tension between self-identity and the performance of outward presentation.
—Colleen Kelsey, CNN, 22 Mar. 2024
Maybe your hostility stems from your conflation of the camera with the maternal gaze, the ever-present eye that threatens to obliterate your own point of view.
—Meghan O'Gieblyn, WIRED, 25 Mar. 2024
In his 2001 memoir, Doty’s gaze lingers on great paintings and ordinary household objects alike.
—Celine Nguyen, The Atlantic, 20 Mar. 2024
The basc Quartet—perhaps spurred on by the gaze of so many look-alike eyes—found the through line of Schoenberg’s personality, which is by turns impassioned, whimsical, savage, and melancholy.
—Alex Ross, The New Yorker, 11 Mar. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'gaze.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
Phrases Containing gaze
Dictionary Entries Near gaze
Cite this Entry
“Gaze.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/gaze. Accessed 19 Apr. 2024.
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Kids Definition
gaze
verbˈgāz
gazed; gazing
: to fix the eyes in a steady intent look
gaze
noun
gazer
noun
Medical Definition
More from Merriam-Webster on gaze
Nglish: Translation of gaze for Spanish Speakers
Britannica English: Translation of gaze for Arabic Speakers
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