WAYS OF LOOKING (FCE)

look: give attention to what one is seeing; turn the eyes and see in a certain direction.
Look at that cute baby!

see: use the power of sight.
See! Here she comes!

watch: look at some activity or event; keep one's eyes fixed on something.
The boys watched television all the afternoon.

gaze: look at something for a long time, in surprise or admiration.
She gazed at him in disbelief when he told her the news.

stare: look at something for a long time with the eyes wide open.
She was staring into space.

gawk = gawp: stare impolitely.
Many people gathered to gawp at the crashed car.

gape: look at something with one's mouth open.
She gaped at him in surprise.

glance: have a quick look at something.
She glanced at her watch.

scan: look quickly at something without careful reading.
He scanned the newspaper over breakfast.

glare: stare angrily or fiercely.
She didn't answered, but just glared silently at me.

peer: look very carefully, as if not able to see well.
He peered at me over his spectacles.

peep: look quickly and cautiously.
He was caught peeping through the keyhole.

observe: watch carefully.
The police observed the man entering the bank.

glimpse: have a passing view of something or someone. Usually used in the expression to catch a glimpse of.
He could catch a glimpse of the president among the crowd.

spot: recognize someone suddenly among many others.
He was spotted by the police boarding a plane for Berlin.

behold: old use of the verb to see.
Behold the king!

view: (technical) look thouroughly; regard, consider.
That film hasn't been viewed by the censor yet.

sight: see for the first time.
The men in the ship finally sighted land.

leer: look in an unpleasant way, suggesting ill will or lust.
The man leered at the young girl.

blink: shut and open the eyes quickly.
How long can you stare without blinking?

wink: close one eye briefly, as a signal to somebody.
He winked at me to show that he was just joking.

frown: look in a worried or angry way, moving down the eyebrows together.
He read the telegram, frowning at its contents.

scowl: frown angrily.
She was very angry and scowled at him while she talked.

squint: look with eyes half shut or turned sideways, or through a narrow opening.
She squinted through the letter-box and saw an envelope.

peek: look quickly and secretively.
She found her brother peeking at her diary.

ogle: look or stare (at a woman) suggesting sexual interest.
Most women hate being ogled at.

goggle: look with the eyes wide open in surprise or shock. (old-fashioned)
People were goggling at her as if she were from another planet.

eyeball: look directly or closely.
Francis eyeballed a beautiful woman at the party.

take a gander at something: (informal) look at something.
cast an eye on/over something: look at something, examine something.

browse: look through the pages of a book or magazine; look at the goods in a shop without really wanting to buy anything.
Sheila spent all the afternoon browsing the boutiques.

scrutinize: examine thoroughly and carefully.
John scrutinized the painting at the museum.