gawk

1 of 2

noun

ˈgȯk How to pronounce gawk (audio)
Synonyms of gawknext
: a clumsy stupid person : lout

gawk

2 of 2

verb

gawked; gawking; gawks

intransitive verb

: to gape or stare stupidly
gawked at the fish in the aquarium
gawker noun

Synonyms of gawk

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Noun

Verb

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Examples of gawk in a Sentence

Noun thought that the linebackers were dumb gawks until he got to know them better Verb a crowd of gawking tourists couldn't help gawking at the exotically dressed guests in the hotel lobby
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Noun
Carrie raves to Seema about her creative connection with Duncan, and during another writing session, Duncan helps Carrie with her faulty printer and gawks at her closet full of designer dresses and shoes. — Dave Nemetz, TVLine, 31 July 2025 The badaud, by contrast, is always liable to form a group or crowd, either for a mass gawk or some communal response. — Julian Barnes, The New York Review of Books, 27 Apr. 2022
Verb
There wasn't even money to demolish the building, so the rivers of humanity who once flowed through the grand space were replaced by voyeurs from the world come to gawk at its cavernous shell. — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 30 July 2026 Next Big Thing, have become the most talked about — and gawked about — in the run-up to Sunday’s World Cup final, when Messi’s Argentina will play Yamal’s Spain for the biggest trophy in the sport. — Joseph Wilson, Chicago Tribune, 18 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for gawk

Word History

Etymology

Noun

probably from English dialect gawk left-handed

Verb

perhaps alteration of obsolete gaw to stare

First Known Use

Noun

1757, in the meaning defined above

Verb

1837, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of gawk was in 1757

Rhymes for gawk

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Browse Nearby Words

gawdy
gawk
gawkhammer
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Gawk.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/gawk. Accessed 5 Aug. 2026.

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Kids Definition

gawk

verb
ˈgȯk
: to stare stupidly
Etymology

Verb

probably an altered form of obsolete gaw "to stare"

More from Merriam-Webster on gawk

Nglish: Translation of gawk for Spanish Speakers

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