gape 1 of 4

Definition of gapenext

gape

2 of 4

verb (1)

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

gaping

3 of 4

adjective

gaping

4 of 4

verb (2)

present participle of gape

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
There’s a gaping chasm, however, between being a seller and actually closing a deal. Julia Poe, Chicago Tribune, 2 Jan. 2026 Now, with back-to-back rainstorms bearing down on the Bay Area, officials this week are racing to seal the gaping hole and protect the historic Great Lick Refractor telescope beneath it. Ethan Baron, Mercury News, 31 Dec. 2025
Adjective
And that is just a gaping fundamental hole with the entire structure. David Pogue, CBS News, 30 June 2024 While fentanyl can easily cause a deadly overdose, the addition of xylazine further slows breathing and can result in painful, gaping and disfiguring wounds on the user's body. Erika Edwards, NBC News, 11 July 2023
Verb
Now, with back-to-back rainstorms bearing down on the Bay Area, officials this week are racing to seal the gaping hole and protect the historic Great Lick Refractor telescope beneath it. Ethan Baron, Mercury News, 31 Dec. 2025 Major repairs, like reconstructing a gaping hole, can cost as much as an F257 Sutton—the company’s $113-ish compact wallet. Alexandra Harrell, Sourcing Journal, 11 Dec. 2025 See All Example Sentences for gape
Recent Examples of Synonyms for gape
Noun
  • 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
  • Such a story may not fit as easily with the narrative imposed from without — with the scores of fans and free-speech advocates who see in Rushdie a kind of aspirational stare-down of danger.
    Steven Zeitchik, HollywoodReporter, 16 Jan. 2026
Adjective
  • Wall will serve directly under Lyons as the agency comes to grips with its wide presence across the country, including in Minneapolis.
    Ross O'Keefe, The Washington Examiner, 16 Jan. 2026
  • The ensemble features a classic long-sleeve pullover and coordinating wide-leg, elastic-waist bottoms.
    Kyra Surgent, InStyle, 16 Jan. 2026
Noun
  • The Barbie doll has a gaze that shifts slightly to the side, reflecting how some people with autism avoid direct eye contact.
    Jacqueline Howard, CNN Money, 12 Jan. 2026
  • Clayton and Josephson cast their gazes over the social order, dismayed by constellations of inauthenticity and self-erasure.
    Katy Waldman, New Yorker, 12 Jan. 2026
Adjective
  • As such, anticipated spending cuts have not materialized and British Chancellor Rachel Reeves is expected to announced tax hikes in her next Autumn Budget to fill a yawning fiscal hole that could be as much as £50 billion ($67.2 billion), although estimates vary.
    Holly Ellyatt, CNBC, 30 Sep. 2025
  • Yet the shooting also divided the American public in ways that many found disturbing, including a yawning lack of empathy for the victim and even cheering for the shooter.
    Patrik Jonsson, The Christian Science Monitor, 10 Dec. 2024
Noun
  • Police described Watson as 6-foot-1 and weighing 227 pounds with black hair and brown eyes.
    Rosalio Ahumada, Sacbee.com, 8 Jan. 2026
  • The youngest Alford brother, however, opened some eyes.
    Rick Armstrong, Chicago Tribune, 7 Jan. 2026
Adjective
  • The room has a Prohibition Era feel, with its exposed brick bar, antique marble floors, warm lighting and leather barstools.
    Sarah Blaskovich, Dallas Morning News, 13 Jan. 2026
  • During that intrusion, the attacker discovered an exposed API that could be used to access customer information linked to 700Credit's dealership clients.
    Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 29 Dec. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Gape.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/gape. Accessed 22 Jan. 2026.

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