What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
leered
Example
The man leered at the woman as she walked by. [leered: verb]
Example
She felt uncomfortable under his leering gaze. [leering: gerund or present participle]
gawk
Example
Don't gawk at people, it's impolite. [gawk: verb]
Example
The child gawked in amazement at the circus performers. [gawked: past tense]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Gawk is more commonly used than leer in everyday language. Gawk is versatile and covers a wide range of contexts, while leer is less common and often associated with negative or harmful behavior.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between leered and gawk?
Both leer and gawk are informal words and are not typically used in formal contexts. However, leer may be considered more offensive or inappropriate than gawk in certain situations.
