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
Passersby continued to gawk and gape as screams for the finale continued inside. Fran Hoepfner, Vulture, 13 Jan. 2026 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 See All Example Sentences for gape
Recent Examples of Synonyms for gape
Noun
  • Indeed, compared with the realistically creased faces and hangdog stares of the Cubs, the Boston fans behind them are closer to grotesques, an inhuman crush of caricatures.
    Christopher Borrelli, Chicago Tribune, 10 Feb. 2026
  • But the film belongs to Farmer, Jacobs’ own grandmother, who gives Hettie an unfussy sturdiness of mien and spirit to counter the growing, sighing frailty of her person, and a steady, narrow stare that occasionally seems to see through time.
    Guy Lodge, Variety, 7 Feb. 2026
Verb
  • Bystanders gawk and cheer from the sidewalks.
    Shirley Li, The Atlantic, 5 Feb. 2026
  • The town has become a popular destination for people who want to gawk at the extraordinary creatures.
    Matthew Carey, Deadline, 28 Jan. 2026
Noun
  • Enveloped in all this optical dazzlement, and cutting across the frame with their bold, frontal gazes, the women are the very embodiment of dignity and power, mirrors of the independence roiling at the heart of the nation.
    Zoë Hopkins, New Yorker, 7 Feb. 2026
  • Reading sideways requires a willingness to re-read, to wander through a set of sources, to widen your gaze.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 6 Feb. 2026
Noun
  • And while their steamy, sweaty dalliances are hot and heavy (albeit mostly clothed), most swoonworthy are the smaller moments, like Heathcliff gently cupping his hands to keep the rain out of Cathy’s eyes.
    Brian Truitt, USA Today, 10 Feb. 2026
  • Catch The Enquirer's video with Bibb and Chapman at the top of the page, and keep an eye out for the next installment of the series.
    Haadiza Ogwude, Cincinnati Enquirer, 10 Feb. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Gape.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/gape. Accessed 13 Feb. 2026.

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