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

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective or adverb

The record stops spinning, and fellow Barbies and Kens stop dancing and stare with mouths agape. —Jonah Valdez, Los Angeles Times, 3 July 2023

The Newbury Park runner’s mouth was agape, sucking in air to fill depleted lungs that had just fueled him to a first-place finish at the Woodbridge Cross-Country Classic at SilverLakes Sports Complex in Norco. —Luca Evans, Los Angeles Times, 19 Sep. 2021

Heather and Whitney are literally agape. —Kate Aurthur, Variety, 11 Sep. 2021

Within the gallery, the ants hide inside small holes, jaws agape. —Ed Yong, Discover Magazine, 1 May 2012

One juror’s mouth was agape throughout the testimony; other jurors’ brows were furrowed. —Dallas News, 30 Aug. 2022

The two players stood next to each other for a photo, and people on Twitter are reacting with virtual mouths agape. —Alex Vejar, The Salt Lake Tribune, 6 Oct. 2022

Shaun Welman, a zoologist at Nelson Mandela University, has seen penguins sitting with eyes shut, heads drooped and beaks agape in the punishing midday heat, struggling to protect their eggs. —Ryan Truscott, Smithsonian Magazine, 1 Dec. 2022

Philadelphia’s shocking loss, removing the last undefeated team in the league, still has some jaws agape. —Chris Morris, Fortune, 20 Nov. 2022

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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

Kids Definition

agape

adjective

ə-ˈgāp,

 also  ə-ˈgap

: having the mouth open in wonder or surprise

the crowd stood agape at the sight