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English Vocabulary - WAYS OF LOOKING

look: give attention to what one is seeing; turn the eyes and see in a certain direction. Look at that
cute baby!

see: use the power of sight.


See! Here she comes!

watch: look at some activity or event; keep one's eyes fixed on something.
The boys watched television all the afternoon.

gaze: look at something for a long time, in surprise or admiration.


She gazed at him in disbelief when he told her the news.

stare: look at something for a long time with the eyes wide open.
She was staring into space.

gawk = gawp: stare impolitely.


Many people gathered to gawp at the crashed car.

gape: look at something with one's mouth open.


She gaped at him in surprise.

glance: have a quick look at something.


She glanced at her watch.

scan: look quickly at something without careful reading.


He scanned the newspaper over breakfast.

glare: stare angrily or fiercely.


She didn't answered, but just glared silently at me.

peer: look very carefully, as if not able to see well.


He peered at me over his spectacles.

peep: look quickly and cautiously.


He was caught peeping through the keyhole.

observe: watch carefully.


The police observed the man entering the bank.

glimpse: have a passing view of something or someone. Usually used in the expression to catch a glimpse
of.
He could catch a glimpse of the president among the crowd.

spot: recognize someone suddenly among many others.


He was spotted by the police boarding a plane for Berlin.

behold: old use of the verb to see.


Behold the king!

view: (technical) look thouroughly; regard, consider.


That film hasn't been viewed by the censor yet.

sight: see for the first time.


The men in the ship finally sighted land.

leer: look in an unpleasant way, suggesting ill will or lust.


The man leered at the young girl.

blink: shut and open the eyes quickly.


How long can you stare without blinking?

wink: close one eye briefly, as a signal to somebody.


He winked at me to show that he was just joking.

frown: look in a worried or angry way, moving down the eyebrows together.
He read the telegram, frowning at its contents.

scowl: frown angrily.


She was very angry and scowled at him while she talked.

squint: look with eyes half shut or turned sideways, or through a narrow opening.
She squinted through the letter-box and saw an envelope.

peek: look quickly and secretively.


She found her brother peeking at her diary.

ogle: look or stare (at a woman) suggesting sexual interest.


Most women hate being ogled at.

goggle: look with the eyes wide open in surprise or shock. (old-fashioned)
People were goggling at her as if she were from another planet.

eyeball: look directly or closely.


Francis eyeballed a beautiful woman at the party.

take a gander at something: (informal) look at something.

cast an eye on/over something: look at something, examine something.

browse: look through the pages of a book or magazine; look at the goods in a shop without really
wanting to buy anything. Sheila spent all the afternoon browsing the boutiques.

scrutinize: examine thoroughly and carefully.


John scrutinized the painting at the museum.

http://www.englishandculture.com/blog/bid/95724/17-Ways-to-Say-Look-in-English

17 Ways to Say "Look" in English


Do you know the difference between
"glare" and "glance"? How about the
difference between "look" and "see"?
To a native English speaker, these
words are pretty different, but I know
that this is tough for an English
learner.
Today I am going to teach you
17 different ways to say "look" so
check it out and start building a more
nuanced English vocabulary today!

17 Ways to Say "Look"

#1) To glare

When we "glare" at someone, we are usually


showing them that we are angry.
A glare usually lasts for a long time and we often
have a frown or a dark look on our face.
A child might glare at his mother when she has
punished him.
Sample sentence: "The kid glared at his mom
when she said that he had to go to his room."

#2) To glance

We use this word when we move our head quickly to see something, but we don't focus on that thing for very
long.
We might not want people to know that we are looking at something or someone so we "glance" at it, very
casually and naturally without making it obvious.
Sample sentence: "I quickly glanced at the gas prices when I drove by the gas station."

#3) To see

"Seeing" is passive. Light comes into your eye when your eyes are open. Seeing is different from looking
because looking is active- you actually try to see something. Learn more here
Sample sentence: "Did you see that car accident on route 12 last night?"

#4) To look

"Looking" is active. We physically make an effort to see something. We usually look quickly and for a shorter
period of time. Learn more here.
Sample sentence: "Look at that guy with pink hair!"

#5) To watch

When we watch something we observe something


happening in front of us.
We might watch a movie, watch a performance, or
watch an argument.
We don't have to be actively involved in the thing that
we are watching.
Learn more here.
Sample sentence: " Last night we watched the
thunderstorm until midnight."

#6) To view
This is similar watch- you can view a presentation or a movie.
You can also view something by looking at it closely and examining it.
Sample sentence: "Before you buy a house, make sure you view it a few times."

#7) To catch a glimpse

To see something for a short time as it goes by quickly.


To barely see something.
Sample sentence: "Did you catch a glimpse of that beautiful woman who just walked by?"

#8) To spot

When you "spot" something, you find something that


you might be looking for.
For example, you might spot a criminal in the crowd.
This word can be used literally or figuratively.
Sample sentence: " I was able to spot my friend
in a huge crowd of more than 100 people."

#9) To stare
"Stare" is similar to glare, but it isn't necessarily a negative thing.
You might stare at someone you have a crush on. A dog stares at his owner when he's hungry.
Sample sentence: " The kids in class stared at the teacher, completely confused."

#10) To inspect

When you "inspect" something, you take an active role of examining something. You might inspect a house to
decide whether or not it is safe.
You might inspect your room for bugs.
Sample sentence: "Did the police inspect your house for safety?"

#11) To gaze
You can use the word "gaze" when you are admiring
something or someone.
You usually look at someone or something for a long
time when you "gaze."

Sample sentence: "We gazed at the good-looking


movie star all afternoon."

#12) To scan

When we look over something quickly we "scan" it.


We might scan a room in a party to see if our friend is there. A computer scans for viruses.
Sample sentence: "I scanned the room to see if Mary was there."

#13) To peer

When you "peer" at something- you look at


something when you can't see it entirely
because your view is obstructed.
A little kid might stand on his toes to peer out of
a window.

Sample sentence: "This little kid is peering


out from behind the couch to look at the
camera."

#14) To witness

This word is similar to watch. It means that you saw an event.


This is often used in the field of criminal justice when we say that someone "witnessed" a crime.
Sample sentence: "I witnessed an act of kindness today at the grocery store."

#15) To make out

To be able to see something from a long distance.


You might not be able to "make out" the shore if you are sailing far out in the ocean.
Sample sentence: " I can make out the stars when I use my telescope."

#16) To eye

When we "eye" something, we are interested in that thing.


We might eye the cookies on the table even though we don't need the extra sugar.
Sample sentence: "I have been eyeing that chocolate cake all night."

#17) To examine

When we "examine" something, we inspect it closely.


A doctor might examine your body to make sure that you are healthy.
Sample sentence: "When the boy got a cut his mom examined it and then cleaned it for him."

http://www.tolearnenglish.com/exercises/exercise-english-2/exercise-english-89560.php
http://www.usingenglish.com/forum/threads/129482-Ways-to-look

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