Synonyms of gape

gape 1 of 4

noun

as in stare

a fixed intent look

I told him to stop staring, that his rather stupid gape was annoying

Synonyms & Similar Words

• stare
• gaze
• eye
• scrutiny
• glare
• regard
• attention
• aspect
• glower
• fixation
• observation
• contemplation
• watch
• inspection
• examination
• survey
• study
• surveillance
• observance
• perusal

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• glance
• sight
• glimpse
• peek
• flash
• peep
• blink
• stime
• ogle
• scan
• browse
• oeillade

gape

2 of 4

verb (1)

ˈgāp 

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

• stare
• gawk
• gaze
• peer
• gawp
• glare
• blink
• rubberneck
• goggle
• gloat
• watch
• glower
• eye
• ogle
• fixate
• leer
• peruse
• observe
• stare down
• consider
• study
• regard
• pore (over)
• outstare
• outface

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• glimpse
• glance
• scan
• peek
• peep
• browse
• dip (into)
• wink (at)

gaping

3 of 4

adjective

as in wide

Related Words

• wide
• yawning
• exposed
• revealed
• unoccupied
• unlocked
• unsealed
• unlatched
• empty
• unfastened
• vacant
• unbarred
• emptied
• unbuttoned
• unfolded
• unbolted
• unclasped
• unobstructed
• navigable
• unfurled
• unclosed
• cleared
• unclenched
• passable
• unzipped
• open
• unstopped
• enterable
• clear
• unclogged
• free

Dissimilar Words

• closed
• blocked
• shut
• stopped
• clogged
• stuffed
• plugged
• obstructed
• jammed
• uncleared
• impassable
• constricted
• hampered
• cramped
• hindered
• gated
• blockaded
• dammed
• encumbered
• impeded
• barricaded
• trammeled
• interfered (with)

gaping

4 of 4

verb (2)

present participle of gape

as in staring

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

• staring
• gawking
• gazing
• peering
• glaring
• gawping
• goggling
• rubbernecking
• blinking
• glowering
• gloating
• leering
• watching
• fixating
• ogling
• eyeing
• considering
• perusing
• regarding
• observing
• staring down
• studying
• poring (over)
• outstaring
• outfacing

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• glancing
• peeking
• peeping
• scanning
• dipping (into)
• glimpsing
• browsing
• winking (at)

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of gape

Noun

Give someone these Santa Maria Novella Melograno Bath Salts, tell them the history, and watch as their mouths gape in surprise. — Tamim Alnuweiri, InStyle, 10 Feb. 2026

At times, the actor feels more like a design element, akin to the marble coffins and gape-mouthed friezes of this gothic world. — Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 30 Aug. 2025

Verb

The family’s dream home (a magazine-pristine and coolly atmospheric feat by production designer Alain Bainée) certainly looks solid, but proves quite permeable — beginning one morning when a gaping hole suddenly appears in the garden wall. — Guy Lodge, Variety, 8 Sep. 2026

Her daily life is kept together as a mother, wife and worker who pops pills to keep going, tries self-help, but deep down (maybe not even that deep) is in denial about the gaping hole in her life. — Pete Hammond, Deadline, 5 Sep. 2026

Adjective

Given that there is no witness to what happened, that leaves a very gaping hole in this investigation. — Hollie Silverman, MSNBC Newsweek, 17 May 2025

And that is just a gaping fundamental hole with the entire structure. — David Pogue, CBS News, 30 June 2024

Verb

The family’s dream home (a magazine-pristine and coolly atmospheric feat by production designer Alain Bainée) certainly looks solid, but proves quite permeable — beginning one morning when a gaping hole suddenly appears in the garden wall. — Guy Lodge, Variety, 8 Sep. 2026

Her daily life is kept together as a mother, wife and worker who pops pills to keep going, tries self-help, but deep down (maybe not even that deep) is in denial about the gaping hole in her life. — Pete Hammond, Deadline, 5 Sep. 2026