plural gaps
1
a
: a space between two people or things
The child had a gap between her two front teeth.
The gap between the lead runner and the rest of the field continued to widen.
b
: a hole or space where something is missing
The sheep got through a gap in the fence.
2
: a missing part
There are unexplained gaps in his story.
The class filled in the gaps in my knowledge of biology.
3
: a part or period in which nothing happens
She had taken several years off to raise a family, so there was a large gap in her work history.
4
: a difference between two people, groups, or things
—often + between
There is a widening gap between the rich and the poor.
We hope to close the gap between well-funded suburban schools and the struggling schools in poorer communities.
His work bridges the gap between popular fiction and serious literature. [=his work has qualities of both popular fiction and serious literature]
Cite this Entry
“Gap.” Merriam-Webster.com Simple Definition, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/simple/gap. Accessed 14 Apr. 2026.
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