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
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
Hernandez looks out the gaping hole that was the emergency room entrance. Kansas City Star, 22 May 2026 The gaping hole in the side of Hope’s real estate office is his first clue. David Ehrlich, IndieWire, 17 May 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 If the absence of Succession has left a dark and gaping hole in your heart, formerly filled by the epic, desperate machinations of the one-percent: tune in. Vogue, 19 July 2024
Verb
Hernandez looks out the gaping hole that was the emergency room entrance. Kansas City Star, 22 May 2026 The gaping hole in the side of Hope’s real estate office is his first clue. David Ehrlich, IndieWire, 17 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for gape
Recent Examples of Synonyms for gape
Noun
  • Brith stares, dazed, nonplussed.
    Maggie O’Farrell, Literary Hub, 2 June 2026
  • Stood frozen to the backdrop of unrestrained exultation, Cholowsky — the presumptive top pick in July’s MLB Draft — gazed over the boy’s shoulder with a thousand-yard stare.
    Ira Gorawara, New York Times, 1 June 2026
Verb
  • The Luce’s quiet-luxury design will also please those browsing Ferrari’s new fashion stores to make a purchase and not just gawk at the prices.
    Alistair Charlton, Forbes.com, 26 May 2026
  • This seemingly reflexive action of whipping out their phones while gawking and filming isn’t a novel occurrence.
    Voice of the People, New York Daily News, 4 May 2026
Adjective
  • In mid-January, as Iran crushed wide-scale protests with the mass killing of demonstrators, Israel prepared a covert mission along the Azerbaijan-Iran border, two of the sources familiar with the plans told CNN.
    Tal Shalev, CNN Money, 5 June 2026
  • Centro Histórico is widely considered the best neighborhood for historic stalls and the widest variety, though excellent options cluster near transportation hubs and office buildings throughout the city.
    Lauren Schuster, Charlotte Observer, 4 June 2026
Verb
  • Instead, The Mandalorian and Grogu is staring at a third-place finish behind writer-director Curry Barker’s Obsession.
    Tim Lammers, Forbes.com, 29 May 2026
  • Shaina laid on her cot all night, staring at the ceiling, processing all the ways her life was changing.
    Rob Picheta, CNN Money, 28 May 2026
Noun
  • Just as various characters in Pine Valley might get front-burner stories for weeks at a time, so too did the Vulgate shift its gaze from one character to another.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 3 June 2026
  • Marilyn Monroe through the female gaze Marilyn Monroe would have celebrated her 100th birthday this week.
    Alexandra Banner, CNN Money, 3 June 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
Verb
  • This seemingly reflexive action of whipping out their phones while gawking and filming isn’t a novel occurrence.
    Voice of the People, New York Daily News, 4 May 2026
  • Those are important characteristics for advertisers seeking to make dynamic campaigns for an audience that's grown accustomed to viewing short-form videos on Reels or gawking at cat photos on Facebook and Instagram.
    Jonathan Vanian, CNBC, 9 Apr. 2026
Noun
  • In another Amsterdam photo, a pair of identical world globes, recalling Ghirri’s passion for cartography and atlases, rest on matching supports to conjure that oldest of surrealist tropes, a pair of staring eyes.
    James Quandt, Artforum, 2 June 2026
  • Just outside the gates is One Tree Hill, a breezy bar and bird’s-eye Whitsundays viewpoint.
    Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 2 June 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Gape.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/gape. Accessed 5 Jun. 2026.

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