gap

noun

ˈgap How to pronounce gap (audio)
Definition of gapnext
1
as in hole
an open space in a barrier (as a wall or hedge) there were several visible gaps in the wall where the drywall had pulled away from the wall framing

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance
2
as in interval
a break in continuity there was a 15-minute gap between the two televised sporting events

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in void
an incomplete or deficient area a gap in his understanding

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in canyon
a narrow opening between hillsides or mountains that can be used for passage thought they were stuck until they found a gap in the mountain range that they could hike through

Synonyms & Similar Words

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of gap According to our analysis, the biggest price gaps are for alcoholic products, bakery apple pie, watermelon and charcoal. — Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 3 July 2026 Four minutes later, Cucurella sent a pass to Oyarzabal, who was left unmarked because David Alaba had left a large gap between himself and the forward. — Iliana Limón Romero, Los Angeles Times, 2 July 2026 That legal accountability gap has produced what Yale management professor Jeffrey Sonnenfeld calls an unprecedented breakdown in institutional response. — Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 3 July 2026 Actress Mariska Hargitay, who joined Swift courtside at Madison Square Garden during Game 4 of the NBA Finals, appears to have one notable gap in her Broadway schedule. — Bryan West, USA Today, 4 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for gap
Recent Examples of Synonyms for gap
  1. hole
  2. interval
  3. void
  4. canyon
  5. crevice
  6. interruption
  7. ravine
  8. opening
Noun
  • Mozeliak said the Angels should not consider a trade proposal in isolation, without considering how to flex their major-market muscles to fill whatever hole a trade might create.
    — Bill Shaikin, Los Angeles Times, 6 July 2026
  • The difference between these two measurements gives the exciton binding energy, a key quantity that determines how strongly the electron and hole remain bound together.
    — Rupendra Brahambhatt, Interesting Engineering, 5 July 2026
Definition of hole
Noun
  • When asked to run similar projections while modeling for factors such as return variability, family income and investor behavior, Morningstar showcases a more subdued picture of financial health for account holders at the same intervals.
    — Ryan Ermey, CNBC, 3 July 2026
  • Participants also self-selected their time interval, and outcomes were self-reported, which may introduce participant bias.
    — Allison Forsyth, Health, 30 June 2026
Definition of interval
Noun
  • One minute you could be booked and busy, the next, a major client leaves, and you’re left scrambling to bring in new leads to fill the void.
    — Chelsea Tobin, Forbes.com, 7 July 2026
  • On June 30, Williams and Meir ventured into the void to replace a wrist joint on the space station's Canadarm2 robotic arm that had been malfunctioning.
    — Chelsea Gohd, Space.com, 7 July 2026
Definition of void
Noun
  • Flames crossed west over the Dolores River and made a push up the canyon and onto the rim, Operations Section Chief Toby Cook said in an update Saturday morning.
    — Katie Langford, Denver Post, 4 July 2026
  • Well over four million people visit each year, so those looking to avoid the masses may want to consider heading to the less-popular North Rim of the canyon.
    — Josh Laskin, Travel + Leisure, 3 July 2026
Definition of canyon
Noun
  • Cleaning every inch of a car interior is a daunting task, with dirt somehow making its way into every crevice between cupholders and seatbelts.
    — Better Homes & Gardens, Better Homes & Gardens, 2 July 2026
  • In the footage, the sound of barking can be heard coming from a dark crevice in the rubble.
    — Stephen Smith, CBS News, 1 July 2026
Definition of crevice
Noun
  • Research at the University of California, Irvine in 2008 found that returning to full focus after an interruption can take an average of 23 minutes.
    — Faustino Júnior, Forbes.com, 7 July 2026
  • In February 2025, Musk admitted DOGE accidentally ended—and then quickly restored—funding for Ebola prevention, saying there was no interruption to programming.
    — Sasha Rogelberg, Fortune, 6 July 2026
Definition of interruption
Noun
  • When camping in an open environment, select a campsite in a valley, ravine, or low region.
    — NC Weather Bot, Charlotte Observer, 5 July 2026
  • Reaching the wreckage proved difficult as emergency workers, backed by paramilitary forces, climbed down a steep mountainside to the ravine up to 25 meters (80 feet) deep.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 3 July 2026
Definition of ravine
Noun
  • The iconic fast food company has grown beyond its California roots in recent years, opening locations in Colorado, Texas, Idaho, and as far east as Tennessee.
    — James Powel, USA Today, 7 July 2026
  • But the summer box office has also lit up with movies including Toy Story 5, earning the biggest opening in that franchise's 31-year history, and Ryan Gosling took audiences on a journey of wonder and hope with Project Hail Mary.
    — Gerrad Hall, Entertainment Weekly, 6 July 2026
Definition of opening

Browse Nearby Words

gang up (on)
gap
gape
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Gap.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/gap. Accessed 8 Jul. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on gap

Nglish: Translation of gap for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about gap

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