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
Lastly, some members of the mainstream media’s reports on the violent anti-ICE protests in Minneapolis have been draped in gross mischaracterizations and gaping omissions. Michael Zais, The Orlando Sentinel, 15 Feb. 2026 Straitjacketed inside the inescapable present, Pearl gapes up to discover that her husband, Walker, has found her; Walker was always going to find her. Literary Hub, 10 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
  • It’s connected through the gaze of the house.
    Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 18 Feb. 2026
  • But that’s not because their scene isn’t worth our gaze.
    Heidi Stevens, Chicago Tribune, 18 Feb. 2026
Noun
  • Some of the artwork and decorative features might be a little risqué for innocent eyes.
    Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 24 Feb. 2026
  • What to expect Unlike solar eclipses, lunar eclipses are completely safe to watch with the naked eye.
    Daisy Dobrijevic, Space.com, 24 Feb. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Gape.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/gape. Accessed 26 Feb. 2026.

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