Neutral:
* Gaze: A steady look, often with a specific focus.
* Observe: To watch carefully and attentively.
* Behold: To look at something with admiration or surprise.
* Study: To examine something carefully and thoroughly.
* Contemplate: To think about something carefully and for a long time.
* Inspect: To examine something closely and systematically.
* Scrutinize: To examine something very carefully and in great detail.
More specific:
* Glance: A quick look.
* Peer: To look at something with difficulty or effort.
* Stare: To look at something fixedly for a long time, often with a blank expression.
* Gawk: To stare at something in an unintelligent or foolish way.
* Survey: To examine something carefully and systematically, often with a broader perspective.
Figurative:
* Dwell on: To focus on something for a long time, often to the point of obsession.
* Muse on: To think about something deeply and thoughtfully.
* Ponder: To consider something carefully and at length.
The best word to use depends on the context and the specific meaning you want to convey.