gape Definition
gape (gāp; occas. gap)
intransitive verb gaped, gap′·ing
- to open the mouth wide, as in yawning or hunger
- to stare with the mouth open, as in wonder or surprise
- to open or be opened wide, as a chasm
Etymology: ME gapen < ON gapa < IE *ghēp- < IE *ghēp- < base *ghe-, to yawn, gape > gab, Gr chasma, abyss, L hiatus
noun
- the act of gaping; specif.,
- an open-mouthed stare
- a yawn
- a wide gap or opening
- Zool. the measure of the widest possible opening of a mouth or beak
gape Related Forms
gap′er noun
gap′·ingly adverb
gape Idioms
the gapes
- a disease of young poultry and birds, characterized by gasping and choking and caused by gapeworms
- a fit of yawning
gape Synonyms
gape
v.
gape Usage Examples
Object
- maw: A dusty little park named for him disappeared into the gaping maw of a new Fort Washington Way.
- chasm: Anne could not forgive this very public humiliation and it widened the breech between them into a gaping chasm.
- hole: There was a gaping hole where the south wall of the transept should have been.
- wound: Many had gaping bullet wounds on the chest, legs, or head.
- jaw: This was the very door remember that Bruce had spent the entire afternoon fashioning to resemble the gaping jaws of a Great White Shark.
- loophole: But some environmental groups argue that the new policies leave some gaping loopholes.
Converse of object
have: The bites had a gape of about 12 cm.
Modifies a noun
hook: I fished this on a 15lb Stealth Skin hook link to size 8 Korda wide gape hook.
Modifying Another Word
- just: He came and sat down on the next bed and just gaped, after asking how I was.
- then: If you want moves that leave your jaw gaping open then look no further.
- there: I was left there gaping, stunned by the freakish weather pattern.
- still: A line was drawn under the archive of the structure while there were still gaping holes in the end wall, so to speak.
Adjective complement
open: Inside is the same picture of SANDY from the teaser, chest gaping open.
Preposition: in
- front: Burns slipped and suddenly Lynn's Darren Way found himself in a bit of space and the goal gaping in front of him.
- astonishment: He shielded his eyes with a hand and squinted against the brightness and gaped in astonishment.
- awe: We gape in awe at a mighty tornado plucking trees, or a raging thunderstorm ripping open the sky.
- horror: She looked up at me; then she shrank into the corner and her eyes gaped in horror.
- amazement: There is little doubt that the ancestors of capoeira would have gaped in amazement at its snowballing popularity.
- disbelief: Carol is sentenced to three years for manslaughter to be served concurrently: Colleen gapes in disbelief.
Followed by an intransitive particle
open: We tried to address the problem in the changing room, but every time he opened his jaw it gaped open.
Browse dictionary entries near gape
- gapeworm ›
- gaptoothed ›
- gar ›
- garage ›
- garage sale ›
- garam masala ›
- Garamond ›
- Garand rifle ›
- garb ›
- garbage ›

