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
Partly in response to losing the Tower Theater and other venues closing down, Colom launched a project called CineMovil, a mobile cinema that stops in different neighborhoods in order to try to fill the gaping hole left by the theater’s closure. Daniel Rivero, Miami Herald, 9 Jan. 2026 The footage shows the fish start to swim faster and more erratically when a large whale suddenly breaks through the school of fish with its gaping maw. Kelli Bender, PEOPLE, 6 Jan. 2026 See All Example Sentences for gape
Recent Examples of Synonyms for gape
Noun
  • The camera zooms in close on his face at this point in the interview, as if trying to glean a hint of emotion from the artist’s middle-distance stare.
    Sasha Geffen, Pitchfork, 21 Jan. 2026
  • His unbroken stare into the camera appears to look for reason and fairness that too often didn't exist in 1956.
    J.D. Miles, CBS News, 20 Jan. 2026
Verb
  • If gawking at celebrities is your thing.
    Randy Myers, Mercury News, 20 Jan. 2026
  • Passersby continued to gawk and gape as screams for the finale continued inside.
    Fran Hoepfner, Vulture, 13 Jan. 2026
Noun
  • The chandelier fixed squarely in the vaulted ceiling and the elegant milk glass lamps that lined the hallway cast their soft gazes downward.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 27 Jan. 2026
  • The film follows Kenji Onishi, a young person who dreams of becoming an idol but struggles with identity under society’s judgmental gaze.
    Patrick Brzeski, HollywoodReporter, 27 Jan. 2026
Noun
  • Strolling past glass display cases of fossils and earthenware artifacts, my eyes landed on a rack by the main entrance with flyers advertising children’s events and local flea markets.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 27 Jan. 2026
  • Even during moderate storms, auroras can appear as faint, gray or milky arcs to the naked eye, while appearing vivid in photographs.
    Jamie Carter, Forbes.com, 27 Jan. 2026

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Gape.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/gape. Accessed 31 Jan. 2026.

More from Merriam-Webster on gape

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!