1 B2 neutral
To look at someone with an unblinking, intense gaze until they look away, signalling dominance.
"The two wrestlers stared each other down before the match began."
separable
stare down
B2 neutral separable transitive
To look at someone with a fixed, intense gaze until they look away or back down, or to face a threat with bravery.
In plain English
To look at someone for so long and so hard that they look away first, or to bravely face a scary situation.
What does "stare down" mean?
2 meanings, ordered from most common to least. Color-coded by CEFR level.
2 B2 idiomatic neutral
To confront a frightening situation or opponent without flinching.
"The young entrepreneur had to stare down several serious crises in her company's first year."
separable
Literal vs figurative
Words literally mean
To look steadily downward at someone from a position of visual dominance.
Actually means
To look at someone for so long and so hard that they look away first, or to bravely face a scary situation.
Usage tip
Primarily American English. Both the literal (gazing contest) and figurative (confronting a threat) senses are in active use. 'Stare down' as a noun (e.g., 'a tense stare-down') is also common.
Words that pair with "stare down"
Natural word combinations native speakers use most often.
opponent threat fear rival challenge danger
How to conjugate "stare down"
The five tense forms you'll use most often.
Base
stare down
I/you/we/they
3rd person
stares down
he/she/it
Past simple
stared down
yesterday
Past participle
stared down
have + pp
-ing form
staring down
continuous
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