gape 1 of 2

Definition of gapenext

gape

2 of 2

verb

as in to stare
to look long and hard in wonder or surprise she suddenly realized she had been gaping at the good-looking waiter instead of giving him her order

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 gape
Noun
Many bird species young have this gape so the parents can more easily direct food into their mouths. Sheryl De Vore, Chicago Tribune, 28 May 2025 For instance, that toothy gape up front is corralled by a goatee of nearly 200 digital light whiskers. New Atlas, 24 Apr. 2025
Verb
Now that Israel and the US have called them to account, the gaping holes in their strategy have left the Gulf exposed. Hadley Gamble, semafor.com, 19 Mar. 2026 With their gaping open mouths, the Free Eden mannequins have scary-clown energy. Jada Yuan, Vulture, 19 Mar. 2026 See All Example Sentences for gape
Recent Examples of Synonyms for gape
Noun
  • In one scene from the film’s original script, the King of Pop stares at his reflection in the mirror, capturing his sorrowful gaze as police car lights flash behind him.
    Brent Lang, Variety, 7 Apr. 2026
  • To play for Hurley is to understand that taking a play off is not acceptable, that bending over and tugging at your short hems – a sure sign, in Hurley’s estimation, of weakness – will earn you either a death stare or a run up the steps.
    Dana O’Neil, CNN Money, 30 Mar. 2026
Verb
  • Crowds gathered, not to buy—few could have afforded the fruit or even known how to eat them—but to gawk.
    Encyclopedia Britannica, Encyclopedia Britannica, 7 Apr. 2026
  • Perhaps it a school field trip to gawk at CNN’s studios.
    Zachary Hansen, AJC.com, 1 Apr. 2026
Noun
  • Rather, Lawrence focused his gaze on the multiracial mass of people who had come together to view the inauguration.
    Michael Lobel, Artforum, 1 Apr. 2026
  • With his head bowed and gaze fixed, the golden retriever looks less like a pet on a routine car ride and more like a main character in a melancholy music video.
    Melissa Fleur Afshar, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 Mar. 2026
Noun
  • Everyone with eyes and an Internet connection knows the Bengals are looking for defense, first and foremost.
    Paul Dehner Jr, New York Times, 7 Apr. 2026
  • Artemis 2 looped around the moon's far side today (April 6), in a nearly seven-hour encounter that gave its four astronauts views of Earth's nearest neighbor that human eyes had never seen before.
    Mike Wall, Space.com, 7 Apr. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Gape.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/gape. Accessed 9 Apr. 2026.

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