stargaze
Americanverb (used without object)
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to gaze at or observe the stars.
-
to daydream.
verb
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to observe the stars
-
to daydream
Usage
What does stargaze mean? To stargaze figuratively means to daydream, as in Staring at the whiteboard, Miguel was stargazing and didn’t hear anything the teacher said. Someone is said to be stargazing when they are staring at nothing, deep in thought. They may be staring out a window, out onto the horizon, or at something without really seeing it. Literally, to stargaze means to observe the stars. You might do this by going outside at night, away from lights, and just looking up at the stars. Some people stargaze as a hobby, meaning they track and observe patterns of the stars in the sky. They might use telescopes or binoculars or just their eyes. Stargaze is also used as an informal term for scientific research involving the solar system and outer space. By extension, sometimes astronomers, astronauts, and astrophysicists might be referred to as stargazers. Stargaze can also be used to mean to observe the stars in practicing astrology. Example: When Lauren is feeling sad and alone, she goes out to her backyard and stargazes for a bit.
Other Word Forms
- stargazer noun
- stargazing noun
Etymology
Origin of stargaze
First recorded in 1620–30; back formation from stargazer
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Robertson arranges stargazing in her mobile observatory, night hikes, swims and meteor watch parties.
From BBC
Smethurst emphasises that a great stargazing experience isn't just about what you look at, it's also about how you prepare.
From BBC
But they are no longer stargazed by life in the Champions League.
From BBC
Tillmans’ interest in stargazing goes back to his adolescence, and images of the moon and cosmos recur in his work.
From Los Angeles Times
Scotland has internationally recognised dark sky sites, which are largely protected from light pollution and recommended for stargazing.
From BBC
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
