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
In a single visit to the Children’s Museum at La Habra, curious youngsters can go on an archaeological dig for dinosaur fossils, perform in costume under the lights of a stage, play in a 1920s Victorian farmhouse and get a close-up look at the gaping jaws of a rhinoceros. Lou Ponsi, Oc Register, 26 Feb. 2026 But few are as rage-inducing as plopping into a gaping pothole. Mack Degeurin, Popular Science, 26 Feb. 2026 See All Example Sentences for gape
Recent Examples of Synonyms for gape
Noun
  • The stares were blank and the handshakes perfunctory, because the Canadians know the value of silver as pertains to this tournament.
    Steve Buckley, New York Times, 22 Feb. 2026
  • Her vacant stares are laced with just enough recognizable humanity to make the camera question what, if anything, is going on behind her eyes — a mystery that looms over the entire story.
    Siddhant Adlakha, Variety, 17 Feb. 2026
Verb
  • Luckily for me, the Brentwood class wasn’t too packed, so there weren’t too many fellow exercisers there to gawk at my unorthodox choice of attire.
    Emma Specter, Vogue, 24 Feb. 2026
  • On a typical day, the Southwest Wildlife Conservation Center in Scottsdale reverberates with animal cries and the footfalls of gawking visitors.
    Shi En Kim, AZCentral.com, 20 Feb. 2026
Noun
  • Each operates as an autonomous theoretical terrain and evolves with the gaze that encounters them.
    Elinore Weil, Artforum, 4 Mar. 2026
  • The artists share an attraction to the gleaming counters and alluring rows of postwar consumer culture, but Parr holds his gaze longer, seeking the nausea after the binge.
    Lauren Collins, New Yorker, 3 Mar. 2026
Noun
  • Folks of all ages will appreciate the nightly Sirenna ritual, which involves a musical march from the lobby down to the sand, where adults are served a local favorite alcoholic chocolate drink, and kids’ eyes will pop when a mermaid appears through the plexiglass window of the infinity pool.
    Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 10 Mar. 2026
  • Your careful eye helps each person feel seen and respected.
    Tarot.com, The Orlando Sentinel, 9 Mar. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Gape.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/gape. Accessed 11 Mar. 2026.

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