From Longman Dictionary of Contemporary Englishgawkgawk /ɡɔːk $ ɡɒːk/ verb [intransitive] LOOK AT informal to look at something for a long time, in a way that looks stupid SYN staregawk at Don’t just stand there gawking at those girls!→ See Verb table
Examples from the Corpus
gawk• I just stood, gawking and shivering, as it disappeared into the hurrying crowd.• Do women want to watch a show about men gawking at sports on television?• Tourists walked around gawking at the people in traditional costumes.• Despite the excellent snow, I spent at least half my time on each run standing still, gawking at the view.• His ugly, freckled face gawked in every direction.• I stood there for a moment, not wanting to gawk or intrude but unable to stop staring.gawk at• Drivers slowed to gawk at the accident.Origin gawk (1800-1900) Perhaps from gawk “left, left-handed” ((18-19 centuries)) 