Cool MateGaze vs Look across the street
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Gaze
Top 2,000 (common)C1verb
Look across the street
Top 3,000 (common)
Most common: Gaze
| Gaze | Look across the street | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 /["/ɡeɪz/","/ˈɡeɪzɪz/","/ɡeɪzd/","/ˈɡeɪzɪŋ/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ɡeɪz/","/ˈɡeɪzɪz/","/ɡeɪzd/","/ˈɡeɪzɪŋ/"]/ | 🇬🇧 //lʊk əˈkrɔːs ðə striːt//🇺🇸 //lʊk əˈkrɔs ðə strit// |
| Meaning | To look at something for a long time. | To see something on the other side of the street. |
| Example | She gazed at him in amazement. | He looked across the street and saw a dog waiting for its owner. |
| Register | Neutral | Neutral |
| How common | Top 2,000 (common) | Top 3,000 (common) |
| CEFR level | C1 | - |
| Part of speech | verb | |
| Collocations | intently, steadily, absently, at, in, into | look across the street, look across the road, look across at someone |
| Antonyms | avert, ignore, dismiss | - |
| Common mistakes | Confused with 'glance' — 'gaze' means a long look, not a quick one., Using 'gaze' without 'at' — it should be 'gaze at the stars', not just 'gaze the stars'., Overusing in casual contexts — more suitable for descriptive or literary situations. | Confused about using 'look across' without an object., Omitting 'the' in 'look across street'. |
| Usage notes | Used in contexts where someone looks intently or dreamily. Not typically used in casual conversations unless describing art or beauty. | Use 'look across the street' when directing someone to observe something on the opposite side. It's commonly used in casual and formal contexts. |
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Frequently asked questions: Gaze vs Look across the street
What's the difference between Gaze and Look across the street?
Gaze: To look at something for a long time. Look across the street: To see something on the other side of the street.
Which is more common: Gaze and Look across the street?
Gaze is the most common in everyday English.
Can you show an example of each?
Gaze: She gazed at him in amazement. Look across the street: He looked across the street and saw a dog waiting for its owner.
Can I use Gaze and Look across the street interchangeably?
Not always. Gaze and Look across the street are related and overlap in some contexts, but they differ in register, how common they are, and usage, so swapping one for another can change the meaning or tone. Check the differences above before substituting.