Meaning & use
gawk
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Meaning
verbintransitiveinformaldisapproving
To stare at something or someone openly and stupidly, often because you are surprised or curious.
Grammar: No object; usually followed by at: gawk at the crash.
Patterns
- gawk at someone
- gawk at something
Drivers slowed down to gawk at the accident.
The tourists stood gawking at the huge fountain.
Don't gawk at people on the street; it's rude.
Word forms
| third person singular | gawks |
|---|---|
| past tense | gawked |
| past participle | gawked |
| -ing form | gawking |
Common combinations
- gawk at
- Passersby stopped to gawk at the film star.
- stand and gawk
- Don't just stand and gawk; help me carry these.
- gawk in amazement
- The children gawked in amazement at the magician.
- stop gawking
- Stop gawking and get back to work.
Synonyms and how they differ
- stare
- Stare is neutral and can be serious or hostile, while gawk suggests a silly, open-mouthed look.
- gape
- Gape stresses the open mouth of surprise, while gawk stresses rude curiosity.
- gaze
- Gaze is calm and often admiring, but gawk is clumsy and impolite.
- rubberneck
- Rubberneck is informal and refers to turning your head to see something such as an accident.
Opposites
Word family
Commonly confused: gawk or gawky?
gawk vs gawky
Gawky describes someone clumsy and awkward in body, while gawk is the verb for staring.
Practice
People slowed down to ____ at the burning building instead of driving on.
Choose one answer.
Gawk at means to stare openly, which fits people slowing down to look. The others do not take at in this sense or do not match the meaning.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “gawk”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.