stare away

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "stare away" is not correct and does not convey a clear meaning in written English.
It may be intended to express the act of staring at something for an extended period, but it is not a standard expression. Example: "He continued to stare away at the horizon, lost in thought."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

His decision to stand away and now stare away gives him the aura of a man composing himself.

The New Yorker

Offred has to guide Janine's stare away from what she can't have and gather her in.

Vice

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

56 human-written examples

Ms. Alt stared away.

The New York Times

His mother put her hand to her mouth and stared away.

The New Yorker

He pulled on his socks and stared away from reporters while he batted away questions.

The New York Times - Sports

She shook her head, and stared away, as her day-old daughter tried to suck her thumb.

The New York Times

The Statue of Liberty stares away from it all, as if to say, "Ah, I have to let them all in, it's in my contract".

Independent

A photo of the two at the time shows him, fat and froglike, embracing her as she, looking cool and gorgeous, stares away in bemused boredom.

The New York Times

He was not sure that the same could be said for the rest of the City of London: he peered over the roof, stared away from his beloved sky, down to the sodium-lit pavement below.

The New York Times

Lori was loudly asking, with genuine and undistracted and bemused curiosity, which Paul felt affection toward and admired, as he stared away from her, out his window, why he couldn't speak and if he could just "make any noise"—when Hunter, who'd been talking to someone in the front passenger seat, sort of forced Lori to stop by aggressively asking about her current boyfriend.

Vice

Teammates are not expected to wait a few paces away, stare off in another direction or hum a tune.

The New York Times - Sports

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Consider using more conventional alternatives like "stare into the distance" or "stare blankly" for clearer and more widely accepted communication. Avoid using "stare away" in formal writing.

Common error

Avoid using "stare away" when you mean to describe someone looking thoughtfully or absently into the distance. This can lead to confusion, as the phrase is not a standard expression.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "stare away" functions as a verb phrase, attempting to describe the act of looking in a distant or unfocused manner. However, Ludwig AI indicates that it's not considered a standard or grammatically correct expression.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Science

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while the phrase "stare away" appears in some contexts, particularly in News & Media, it is generally considered grammatically incorrect and not a standard expression. Ludwig AI supports this assessment. It's advisable to use more conventional alternatives like "stare blankly" or "gaze into the distance" to ensure clarity and avoid potential misinterpretations. The phrase attempts to convey a sense of distant, unfocused gazing, but clearer, more accepted alternatives are recommended for both formal and informal communication to describe someone looking thoughtfully or absently. Therefore, while understandable, "stare away" should be used with caution, and more established phrases are preferred to maintain grammatical correctness and clarity.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

stare blankly

Emphasizes the lack of focus or expression in the gaze.

stare into nothingness

Directly indicates the lack of a specific object of focus, suggesting a mental disconnect.

gaze into the distance

Focuses on the act of looking far off, emphasizing the distance of the gaze.

stare vaguely

Suggests an unfocused or unclear gaze, lacking sharpness or definition.

look off into space

Similar to gazing into the distance, but with a connotation of absent-mindedness.

look fixedly

Emphasizes the unwavering and intense nature of the gaze.

look distantly

Indicates that the gaze is directed far away, either physically or mentally.

look into the void

Implies staring at nothingness, often suggesting a sense of emptiness or contemplation.

gaze absently

Implies that the person is not fully present or engaged in what they are looking at.

gaze vacantly

Highlights the emptiness and lack of engagement in the act of looking.

FAQs

Is "stare away" grammatically correct?

The phrase "stare away" is generally considered grammatically incorrect. It's better to use alternatives like "stare blankly" or "gaze into the distance" depending on the intended meaning.

What does "stare away" mean?

While not a standard phrase, "stare away" might be interpreted as staring into the distance or staring without focusing on anything specific. However, it's best to use clearer expressions like "look into the void" or "look off into space".

How can I use "stare away" in a sentence?

It's advisable to avoid using "stare away" in formal writing. If you intend to convey a sense of distant gazing, consider using "He would often "stare into nothingness", lost in his thoughts" instead.

What are some alternatives to "stare away"?

Instead of "stare away", you can use phrases like "gaze vacantly", "look fixedly", or "stare vaguely", depending on the nuance you wish to express.