gaze

1 of 2

verb

gazed; gazing; gazes

intransitive verb

: 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

gaze

2 of 2

noun

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
So 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
It 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

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 Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Verb
Like Michel Hazanavicius’ Godard Mon Amour, also set during May ’68, France’s chaotic history feels like a colorful backdrop for comedy, with lots of vintage costumes, old cars and sepia-toned set decorations to gaze at. Jordan Mintzer, The Hollywood Reporter, 21 Feb. 2025 At 1,500-foot elevation, sip a banana daiquiri while scanning the panoramic view, gazing to the north at St. Thomas’s uninhabited island, then to the east at the British Virgin Islands. Carol M. Bareuther, AFAR Media, 20 Feb. 2025
Noun
Her understanding of her body and her steely gaze has only deepened since then, culminating in her Best Actress win at the Academy Awards for 2022’s Everything Everywhere All at Once. Angelica Jade Bastién, Vulture, 7 Feb. 2025 The cover image is one of several that show Barbara with her dark hair obscuring her face, an adolescent Cousin Itt, hiding from the parental gaze. Helen Sullivan, The New Yorker, 3 Feb. 2025 See All Example Sentences for gaze

Word History

Etymology

Verb

Middle English

Noun

derivative of gaze entry 1

First Known Use

Verb

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Noun

1566, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of gaze was in the 14th century

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Cite this Entry

“Gaze.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/gaze. Accessed 27 Feb. 2025.

Kids Definition

gaze

verb
ˈgāz
gazed; gazing
: to fix the eyes in a steady intent look
gaze noun
gazer noun

Medical Definition

gaze

intransitive verb
gazed; gazing
: to fix the eyes in a steady and intent look
gaze noun

More from Merriam-Webster on gaze

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