agape

1 of 2

adjective or adverb

ə-ˈgāp 

 also  -ˈgap

1

: wide open : gaping

with mouth agape

2

: being in a state of wonder

stood agape before the gothic cathedral

agape

2 of 2

noun

aga·​pe ä-ˈgä-(ˌ)pā  ˈä-gə-ˌpā 

1

: love feast

2

: love sense 4a

Synonyms

Adjective or adverb

• agog
• anticipant
• anticipatory
• expectant

Examples of agape in a Sentence

Adjective or adverb

at the sound of the sleigh bells the children were all agape, waiting for Santa to appear

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective or adverb

The chimps yawned more frequently when the robot’s mouth was fully agape in a yawn. —Mack Degeurin, Popular Science, 5 June 2025

Its mouth was agape, revealing rows of white bristles. —Brendan Rascius, Miami Herald, 19 May 2025

And hordes of massive tuna leap through the air, their hungry mouths agape. —Jen Murphy, Robb Report, 19 Apr. 2025

The animal, which measured about 5 feet long, was missing most of its skin, and its mouth was agape, revealing rows of white teeth. —Brendan Rascius, Miami Herald, 21 Mar. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Adjective or adverb

a- entry 1 + gape entry 1

Noun

borrowed from Late Latin agapē, borrowed from Greek agápē "brotherly love," back-formation from agapân "to regard with affection, be fond of, be contented (with)" or agapázein "to welcome warmly," perhaps from a base *aga-pā- "lavish protection, attention or affection (on)," literally, "protect greatly," going back to Indo-European *m̥ǵh₂- "large, great" + *peh₂- "protect" — more at much entry 1, fur entry 1

First Known Use

Adjective Or Adverb

1667, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun

1536, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for agape

• escape
• landscape
• lenape
• reshape
• seascape
• soundscape
• ape
• cape
• crape
• crepe
• drape
• gape

Kids Definition

agape

adjective

ə-ˈgāp,

 also  ə-ˈgap

: having the mouth open in wonder or surprise

the crowd stood agape at the sight