Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

see stars

Word Rarity Uncommon

Frequency: Zipf frequency 4.84 in modern English

Syllables: see s-tars
IPA

8

Scrabble Score

8

Letters

2

Syllables

5

Unique Chars

Meaning

verb

To experience apparent flashing lights in one's field of vision, especially after receiving a blow to the head.

verb

To be reeling immediately after a sudden misfortune analogous to a blow.

Example Sentences

"Of course they bumped their heads smartly together, saw stars, and both came up flushed and laughing, without the ball, to resume their seats, wishing they had not left them."
"Malcolm hit his head and fell to the floor, seeing stars."
"During his 13-year career as a game-changing NFL linebacker, Lawrence Taylor hit opponents so hard he often made them see stars."

Inflected Forms

sees stars (present, singular) seeing stars (participle, present) saw stars (past) seen stars (participle, past)

Homonyms

sea stars

Questions

What does see stars mean?: To experience apparent flashing lights in one's field of vision, especially after receiving a blow to the head.

How to pronounce see stars

Open the pronunciation page — Open the Speakur entry for “see stars”.
Read the phonetic spelling — Read the IPA spelling () so you know which sounds to aim for.
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Repeat and practice — Say “see stars” aloud, matching stress and vowels until it feels natural.