keen gaze

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "keen gaze" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe someone's sharp or perceptive way of looking at something, often implying attentiveness or insight. Example: "She observed the crowd with a keen gaze, noticing every detail that others overlooked."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

With this simple technology, he had to excavate slowly into the 13ft-long marble slab, negotiating the clumsy damage done by its previous assailants, hoping his labour would not be wasted and that he would find the perfect limbs, the breathing sternum, the keen gaze within.

The Guardian - Arts

China is turning the keen gaze of its beady censorship eye to the world of online music as part of its latest crackdown on the Internet.

TechCrunch

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

The lobby is filled with tottering elderly people whose wild hair, mismatched clothes and keen gazes bespeak not madness or age but rather a lifetime of challenging convention.

The New York Times

That piercing gaze".

The New Yorker

Directed with a keen, clear gaze by Mr. Paparelli, and featuring a superb cast of young actors, "columbinus" now concludes with an examination of the aftermath of the crime, at intervals beginning just after it took place, moving forward into the present day.

The New York Times

The filmed trips through Tokyo infuse the rich texture of the city with a startling emotional intensity and a sense of teeming ambient drama; keen and searching gazes through windows and windshields and their myriad reflections evoke silent cries of solitude.

The New Yorker

/ It has a sniper's keen sight / and gazes unflinchingly at the future / as only it can".

Huffington Post

Being a keen oak enthusiast, Simon Burvill of Gaze Burvill tagged along.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

With a sullen, rueful gaze and a keen eye for the equally off-putting textures of showy bourgeois finery and grim low-rent furnishings, Losey maintains his story's anguishing ambiguity: is Webb's lust for Susan detachable from her money?

The New Yorker

But what could be more delicious to conspiracy theorists than the existence of an unseen document that apparently the authorities were keen to keep from the full public gaze?

BBC

For Burkett there is no more beautiful sight than that of an audience, but he is keen to manipulate the relationship of the gazed and gazer.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "keen gaze" to describe someone who is not just looking, but observing with intent and understanding. It suggests intelligence and awareness in their observation.

Common error

Avoid using "keen gaze" to describe inanimate objects or abstract concepts. The phrase is most effective when describing a living being's act of observation.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "keen gaze" primarily functions as an adjectival phrase modifying a noun, typically referring to a person or being capable of observation. It describes the quality of their gaze, emphasizing sharpness and attentiveness. As Ludwig AI states, the phrase is correct and usable.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Science

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "keen gaze" is a grammatically correct and usable expression, as affirmed by Ludwig AI, employed to describe a sharp, perceptive, and attentive way of looking. Primarily found in news and media contexts, it suggests intelligence and awareness in observation. While interchangeable with alternatives like "sharp look" or "piercing stare", it's crucial to use "keen gaze" only when describing a conscious act of observation by a person or being, avoiding its application to inanimate objects or abstract concepts. Mastering its correct usage elevates writing by adding depth and nuance to character descriptions and observations.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

sharp look

Replaces "keen" with "sharp", emphasizing the intensity and focus of the gaze.

piercing stare

Substitutes "gaze" with "stare" and "keen" with "piercing", highlighting the intense and penetrating nature of the look.

observant look

Replaces "keen" with "observant", focusing on the attentive and perceptive quality of the gaze.

attentive gaze

Replaces "keen" with "attentive", emphasizing the focused and careful nature of the look.

discerning look

Replaces "keen" with "discerning", highlighting the insightful and perceptive quality of the gaze.

penetrating gaze

Replaces "keen" with "penetrating", stressing the ability of the gaze to see beyond the surface.

intense stare

Similar to "piercing stare", but slightly less aggressive in connotation.

watchful eye

Uses a different metaphor, focusing on the act of watching with attentiveness.

eagle eye

Implies a sharp, far-sighted, and keen observation like that of an eagle.

focused gaze

Replaces "keen" with "focused", emphasizing concentration and intent in the gaze.

FAQs

How can I use "keen gaze" in a sentence?

You can use "keen gaze" to describe someone's sharp and perceptive way of looking at something, often implying attentiveness or insight. For example, "She observed the crowd with a keen gaze, noticing every detail that others overlooked."

What are some alternatives to "keen gaze"?

You can use alternatives like "sharp look", "piercing stare", or "attentive gaze" depending on the context.

Is "keen gaze" formal or informal?

"Keen gaze" is suitable for both formal and informal contexts. While not overly technical, it carries a sense of educated observation applicable in various writing styles.

What does a "keen gaze" imply about the person?

A "keen gaze" suggests that the person is not just looking, but actively observing with intelligence, focus, and a desire to understand what they are seeing.