Basic Details
Word: Stare
Part of Speech: Verb
Meaning: To look at someone or something for a long time with your eyes wide open, often in surprise.
Synonyms: gaze, gape, goggle
Antonyms: glance
Sounds like: stair (one step in a staircase)
How to Spell Stare
Syllables: stare
Tricky part: Stare sounds exactly like stair, the step in a staircase. The looking word ends in are.
Watch out for: staer, starre, stayre
Memory tip: When you stare, your eyes are wide open: the looking word hides are at its end.
Idioms and Phrases
- stare someone in the face: To be very obvious, though you have not noticed it. Example: "The answer was staring me in the face all along."
- stare into space: To look at nothing in particular because you are lost in thought. Example: "Rohan sat staring into space instead of finishing his sums."
Usage Examples
Example 1: The baby likes to stare at the ceiling fan.
Example 2: It is rude to stare at strangers on the train.
Example 3: We stood and stared at the huge elephant at the temple gate.
Fun Fact
Owls cannot move their eyes in their sockets, which is why they seem to stare; to look around they turn their whole head instead.
Practise the CREST Way
Mingle-Mangle
Form a meaningful word from the jumbled letters:
raets
a) store
b) stare
c) steer
d) stair
Show answer
b) stare. Stair has an i, store an o and steer two e's, but the jumble has only a and e.
Word Connection
Choose the synonym of the word: stare
a) gaze
b) ignore
c) blink
d) glance
Show answer
a) gaze. To gaze is to look steadily for a long time; a glance is quick.
Spell-o-Spell
Choose the incorrectly spelt word:
a) staer
b) observe
c) squint
d) glimpse
Show answer
a) staer. Stare ends in are, the same as glare.
Multiple Choice Questions
1. Which word sounds like stare but means a step?
a) steer
b) store
c) star
d) stair
Show answer
d) stair
2. Choose the sentence where stare is used correctly.
a) She put her stare in the cupboard.
b) We climbed the stare to the roof.
c) He wore a stare on his wrist.
d) The cat began to stare at the fish tank.
Show answer
d) The cat began to stare at the fish tank.
