Stare Down in a Sentence: Meaning, Uses & Examples

Stare down is a phrasal verb meaning to look at someone steadily until they look away, and by extension to face a challenge without flinching. To use stare down in a sentence, keep a pronoun object between the verb and the particle: “She stared the heckler down.” The verb is always transitive, so something or someone must be stared down.

Stare down at a glance

• Stare down is a transitive phrasal verb; its forms are stare down, stares down, stared down and staring down.
• A pronoun object must sit between the verb and the particle: stare him down.
• The literal sense is a gaze contest; the figurative sense is facing a threat without giving way.
• The usual subjects are people, teams and, figuratively, whole institutions.
• The commonest error is writing stare down him instead of stare him down.

What does stare down mean?

Stare down is a phrasal verb meaning to defeat someone in a contest of looking, or to face a threat without flinching. The Cambridge entry for stare down records the sense of looking fixedly at someone until they turn away. The literal sense settles a standoff; the figurative sense settles a challenge, as when a committee stares down public anger. Where the meeting is a direct clash rather than a contest of nerve, confront a rival is the plainer verb.

One limitation is worth stating plainly. Stare down does not mean simply look at. It always implies a contest, so a sentence about reading a poster or watching a bird needs look at or gaze at; using stare down there invents a conflict that is not there.

How do you use stare down in a sentence?

Place the object directly after stare, and put down after the object when that object is a pronoun: stare him down, never stare down him. A full noun may follow the particle, so the captain stared down the challenge also works, but the pronoun rule is fixed. The verb is transitive and never appears without an object, and in a relative clause the particle may trail: the rival he stared down. To browbeat a witness is a heavier tactic, because browbeat adds pressure rather than a contest of nerve.

Stare down in a sentence: examples across contexts

Stare down keeps the same contest at its centre while the setting changes. The nine sentences below move from a playground to a news report, and each one keeps the object in the right place.

Notice that the object is always named. A sentence that says he stared down leaves the reader asking who, because this verb cannot stand alone.

Stare down vs back down

The two phrasal verbs describe opposite outcomes of the same standoff. To stare someone down is to hold your ground until they yield; to back down is to be the one who yields. A good stare downs the other person, while backing down is what the other person does.

Verdict: choose stare down when the subject wins the contest of nerve, and back down when the subject is the one who steps aside. A related verb, cower away, describes the fear that makes someone yield before the contest even begins.

Word forms and grammar of stare down

Stare down behaves like other transitive phrasal verbs, and its noun form takes a hyphen. The table also lists the forms learners build by mistake, so the non-standard ones are clearly marked. A hard a hard glare is the silent version of the same contest.

Common mistakes with stare down

• Incorrect: She stared down him. Correct: She stared him down. Rule: A pronoun object must sit between the verb and the particle.
• Incorrect: He stared down at his rival. Correct: He stared his rival down. Rule: Here down is a particle, so do not add at.
• Incorrect: The team stared down to the deadline. Correct: The team stared down the deadline. Rule: The verb is transitive and takes no to.
• Incorrect: They stared down when the teacher frowned. Correct: They looked down. Rule: Stare down needs an object; use look for an intransitive glance.
• Incorrect: He was staring down for an hour. Correct: He was staring his opponent down for an hour. Rule: The verb cannot be left without its object.

Practice using stare down

Work through the six items, then read the reasoning rather than only the answer.

1. Fill the gap: The defender ______ the striker ______ before the free kick.
2. Choose the better word: After a long silence, the smaller boy (stared the bully down / backed down).
3. Correct the error: The negotiator stared down at the union leader.
4. Build a sentence: use stare down about a team facing a hard match.
5. Spot the register: which belongs in a match report — the captain stared down the jeering crowd, or the captain gave them a good look?
6. Rewrite with a pronoun: The coach stared down the referee. Use him.

Answers

1. stared; down — the full noun striker sits between verb and particle, which is also correct.
2. stared the bully down — the smaller boy wins the contest, so the object follows stare.
3. The negotiator stared the union leader down — down is a particle, so drop at.
4. Model answer: The team stared down a much stronger opponent and won.
5. The captain stared down the jeering crowd — a match report keeps the vivid phrasal verb.
6. The coach stared him down — the pronoun must sit between the verb and the particle.

The bottom line

Use stare down in a sentence for a contest of nerve, whether the object is a person, a crowd or a threat, and keep a pronoun object between the verb and the particle. The two details that decide most sentences are these: the verb is transitive, so an object is always required, and down is a particle, so it moves around a pronoun. Where the subject is the one who yields, back down is the correct verb, and where a weaker person is pushed hard, intimidate a newcomer describes the pressure rather than the contest.

Frequently asked questions about stare down

Is stare down literal or figurative?

Stare down began as a literal contest of looking, and that sense is still common in playgrounds and sports. The figurative sense extends the same idea to any challenge, so a team can stare down relegation and a leader can stare down a crisis. Both senses keep the notion of refusing to flinch.

Where does the pronoun go in stare down?

A pronoun object always goes between the verb and the particle: stare him down, stare her down, stare them down. Writing stare down him is the commonest mistake with this verb. A full noun is more flexible, so both stare down the challenge and stare the challenge down are acceptable.

What is the difference between stare down and glare?

To glare is to look angrily, with no contest implied and no object required. To stare someone down is to hold a steady look until they yield, and it always names an object. A glare can last a second, but a stare down lasts until one person turns away.

Is stare down written with a hyphen?

The verb is two words with no hyphen, as in she stared him down. The noun form takes a hyphen, as in a tense stare-down between the two leaders. Use the hyphen only when the phrase names the event rather than the action, and keep the verb open.

Have you ever engaged in a staring contest to assert dominance or show intimidation towards someone? This act of unwavering eye contact is commonly known as a “stare down.”

A stare down is a nonverbal confrontation where individuals lock eyes in a battle of willpower and assertiveness. It can be used to display dominance, challenge an opponent, or simply to convey a strong message without uttering a word.

7 Examples Of Stare Down Used In a Sentence For Kids

• Stare down at the colorful flowers in the garden.
• Can you stare down at the big elephant in the zoo?
• Let’s stare down at the tiny ants on the ground.
• We can stare down at the bright stars in the night sky.
• Don’t forget to stare down at your plate when eating.
• It’s fun to stare down at the bubbles in the bath.
• Stare down at your favorite book while reading it.

14 Sentences with Stare Down Examples

• Stare down your fears before giving a presentation in front of the class.
• At a debate competition, be prepared to stare down your opponent to show confidence.
• Stare down the pile of books you need to study for your upcoming exams.
• When negotiating with your college administration for better facilities, don’t hesitate to stare down the decision-makers.
• During a heated discussion in your college club, use the power of stare down to make your point clear.
• Stare down the blank computer screen when starting a new writing assignment.
• In a competitive sports event, players learn to stare down their opponents for a mental edge.
• When challenging a classmate to a friendly academic competition, use your best stare down skills.
• Stare down the challenging question on the exam paper before attempting to answer it.
• During a group project meeting, use stare down to make sure everyone is on the same page.
• As a college student, you will often need to stare down difficult decisions about your future career.
• When facing a strict professor in class, remember to stare down any intimidation you may feel.
• Use stare down to assert your point of view during a classroom discussion or debate.
• When you feel overwhelmed by the workload, take a moment to stare down your to-do list and prioritize tasks.

How To Use Stare Down in Sentences?

To use Stare Down in a sentence, simply follow these steps:

1. Choose a suitable situation where you want to convey a sense of dominance or intimidation.

2. Identify the person or object you want to focus on or challenge with your intense gaze.

3. Lock eyes with the individual or target and maintain a firm, unwavering stare. Make sure your gaze is steady and confident.

4. Keep your body language upright and assertive to enhance the impact of your stare.

5. Use Stare Down as a non-verbal way to communicate your intentions or feelings, such as asserting authority, showing disapproval, or expressing determination.

6. Pay attention to the reactions of the person or target as they may respond in various ways to your intense gaze. This can give you insight into their feelings or thoughts.

7. Remember to use Stare Down sparingly and appropriately to avoid making others feel uncomfortable or threatened.

By following these steps, you can effectively use Stare Down in a sentence to assert your dominance or convey your message without saying a word. It can be a powerful tool for non-verbal communication in various social or competitive situations.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the act of “staring down” someone or something signifies a deliberate and intense gaze often used to convey dominance, challenge, or intimidation. In many situations, individuals may engage in a stare down to assert their authority or show their resolve, whether in a confrontational encounter or a competitive setting. For example, during a heated argument, one might choose to stare down their opponent to signal determination and unwavering conviction in their stance.

Moreover, in sports or other competitive scenarios, athletes may engage in a stare down to psych out their opponents and create a psychological advantage. This tactic can be a powerful tool to instill doubt or unease in the adversary, potentially influencing their performance. Overall, a stare down is a non-verbal communication technique that can speak volumes without uttering a single word, making it a potent form of expression in various social and competitive interactions.