Looking

Looking is the act of intentionally focusing visual perception on someone or something, for the purpose of obtaining information, and possibly to convey interest or another sentiment.

A large number of troponyms exist to describe variations of looking at things, with prominent examples including the verbs "stare, gaze, gape, gawp, gawk, goggle, glare, glimpse, glance, peek, peep, peer, squint, leer, gloat, and ogle".

[9][10][11][12] Both arrangements suggest that the person is directing their vision towards the thing, but failing to give sufficient attention to notice specific characteristics or implications of what is in the visual field.

A number of troponyms exist to illustrate kinds of looking that are either intentionally or unconsciously done in intense, pronounced, or prolonged ways.

At the extreme, rubbernecking is the physical act of craning one's neck, performed in order to get a better view,[16] and has been described as a human trait that is associated with morbid curiosity.

[18][13] A number of troponyms exist to illustrate kinds of looking that are either intentionally or unconsciously done in a quick, subtle, or hidden way.

[19] Glimpse appeared as a noun with its current meaning in 1580, from Middle English glimsen, and as a verb in 1779, although it was originally associated with seeing bright or shiny things.

Hieronymus Bosch 's The Conjurer . The central figure (the conjurer) looks forward, steadily, intently, and with fixed attention. While other figures observe objects within the painting, and the woman in green appears to observe the viewer.
Illustration from the Sherlock Holmes story, "The Adventure of the Stockbroker's Clerk", in The Strand Magazine , March 1893, original captioned "Glancing at the haggard figure".