goggle
7 synonyms and 0 antonyms for goggle, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Verb — To stare at something with wide, bulging eyes, usually in astonishment.
Synonyms
Less common
Still standard English, but they carry more weight.
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
Synonyms by Meaning
1. verb
To stare at something with wide, bulging eyes, usually in astonishment.
“The children goggled at the size of the cake.”
2. noun
Close-fitting protective eyewear with a seal around the eyes, worn for swimming, skiing, welding or lab work. Almost always used in the plural, goggles.
“You can't enter the workshop without safety goggles.”
How to use goggle
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
The verb is slightly old-fashioned and comic; the plural noun is entirely ordinary.
Etymology
From 14th century Middle English gogelen (“to roll (eyes), to look sideways”). Earlier source is unknown. The noun is attested from the 17th century. Compare Irish gog (“a nod, a slight motion”).
Full origin of goggle →Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between goggles and glasses?
Glasses rest on the nose and ears with open sides. Goggles are strapped on and sit flush against the face, sealing the eyes off from water, dust, chemicals or wind. Goggles are worn for protection, glasses usually for vision correction.
Is goggle related to Google?
Not as a matter of established fact. Goggle is a much older English verb meaning to stare, and Google is a company name; any account linking the two should be treated as speculation.