gape

¹gape

verb \ˈgāp sometimes ˈgap\

gapedgap·ing

Definition of GAPE

intransitive verb

1

a : to open the mouth wide b : to open or part widely <holes gaped in the pavement>

2

: to gaze stupidly or in openmouthed surprise or wonder

3

: yawn

— gap·ing·ly \ˈgā-piŋ-lē, ˈga-piŋ-\ adverb

Examples of GAPE

1. <she suddenly realized she had been gaping at the good-looking waiter instead of giving him her order>

Origin of GAPE

Middle English, from Old Norse gapa; perhaps akin to Latin hiare to gape, yawn — more at yawn

First Known Use: 13th century

Related to GAPE

Synonyms: blink, gawk, gawp [chiefly British], gaze, goggle, peer, rubberneck, stare

Related Words: glare, gloat, glower; consider, eye, fixate, observe, regard, watch; leer, ogle; peruse, pore (over), study; outface, outstare, stare down

Near Antonyms: glance, glimpse, peek, peep; browse, dip (into), scan; wink (at)

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Rhymes with GAPE

cap, chap, clap, crap, flap, frap, gap, hap, knap, lap, Lapp, map, nap, nape, nappe, pap, rap, sap, scrap, slap, snap, strap, tap, trap, wrap, yap, Yap, zap