Intense/Focused:
* Gazed: Implies a long, steady look, often with concentration or admiration.
* Stared: Suggests a fixed, unblinking look, often with curiosity or surprise.
* Peered: Used for looking closely or carefully, often trying to see something that's hard to make out.
* Scrutinized: Implies a careful and detailed examination.
Casual/Curious:
* Glanced: A quick, brief look.
* Peeked: A furtive or sneaky look.
* Observed: A more formal way to say "looked," often used for watching something carefully.
Emotional:
* Beheld: Used for something beautiful or impressive.
* Saw: Often used with a feeling of shock or surprise.
* Witnessed: Used for something important or memorable.
Other:
* Examined: A more formal way to say "looked," used for analyzing something closely.
* Surveyed: To look at something from a distance or to take in a whole scene.
* Scanned: To quickly look over something, usually for a specific detail.
To choose the best word, consider the situation and the feeling you want to convey.