1
as in holes
an open space in a barrier (as a wall or hedge)
there were several visible gaps in the wall where the drywall had pulled away from the wall framing
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
2
as in intervals
a break in continuity
there was a 15-minute gap between the two televised sporting events
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in ravines
a narrow opening between hillsides or mountains that can be used for passage
thought they were stuck until they found a gap in the mountain range that they could hike through
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of gaps
Keep your dishwasher clean, and close obvious gaps to prevent rodents.
—
Kate Van Pelt, The Spruce, 22 May 2026
Chris Richards, from Alabama, is an uncompromising defender whose Afro towers above the back line and whose lankiness masks a quickness that covers gaps in the American half.
—Leander Schaerlaeckens, New Yorker, 22 May 2026
But experts note that the cutoff of US funding to WHO prompted staff reductions at the global organization, and no other donor country has filled those WHO funding gaps.
—Jennifer Hansler, CNN Money, 22 May 2026
The goal is to catch the gaps before buyers do.
—David Chapman, Forbes.com, 22 May 2026
Bayard, though admitting to gaps in his own reading, sees familiarity with literature as a means of orienting yourself intellectually, whereas Adler understands a student as merely a sedentary receptacle.
—Literary Hub, 21 May 2026
By tracking employment outcomes and career progression, institutions can gain clearer insight into their strengths and where gaps remain, creating a more informed path to continuously improve workforce readiness and close the experience gap.
—Michael Hansen, Fortune, 15 May 2026
But most summit speakers treated circularity—a nebulous concept at the best of times—largely as an engineering challenge, one hampered by immature infrastructure, policy gaps and weak economics.
—Jasmin Malik Chua, Footwear News, 15 May 2026
The new identification system is intended to address these gaps and support large-scale, high-quality development.
—Jijo Malayil, Interesting Engineering, 15 May 2026
Kate Van Pelt, The Spruce, 22 May 2026
Chris Richards, from Alabama, is an uncompromising defender whose Afro towers above the back line and whose lankiness masks a quickness that covers gaps in the American half.
—Leander Schaerlaeckens, New Yorker, 22 May 2026
But experts note that the cutoff of US funding to WHO prompted staff reductions at the global organization, and no other donor country has filled those WHO funding gaps.
—Jennifer Hansler, CNN Money, 22 May 2026
The goal is to catch the gaps before buyers do.
—David Chapman, Forbes.com, 22 May 2026
Bayard, though admitting to gaps in his own reading, sees familiarity with literature as a means of orienting yourself intellectually, whereas Adler understands a student as merely a sedentary receptacle.
—Literary Hub, 21 May 2026
By tracking employment outcomes and career progression, institutions can gain clearer insight into their strengths and where gaps remain, creating a more informed path to continuously improve workforce readiness and close the experience gap.
—Michael Hansen, Fortune, 15 May 2026
But most summit speakers treated circularity—a nebulous concept at the best of times—largely as an engineering challenge, one hampered by immature infrastructure, policy gaps and weak economics.
—Jasmin Malik Chua, Footwear News, 15 May 2026
The new identification system is intended to address these gaps and support large-scale, high-quality development.
—Jijo Malayil, Interesting Engineering, 15 May 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for gaps
Noun
-
Alex Smalley at least gets a head start thanks to his sublime play on the back nine at Aronimink Golf Club, with six birdies over his last 10 holes for a 2-under 68 and a two-shot lead.—
Doug Ferguson,
Chicago Tribune,
17 May 2026
-
If your tree is in a lawn, poke 6-inch deep holes around the drip line and pour the fertilizer into them.—
Rachel Silva,
Martha Stewart,
17 May 2026
Noun
-
Jimenez’s ‘Si Senor’ song was belted out at regular intervals and fans would have been encouraged to hear the Mexican, speaking after the game, open up the prospect of a return to Wolves when his Fulham contract expires this summer.—
Steve Madeley,
New York Times,
18 May 2026
-
Buses run daily at around 15-minute intervals.—
Kristy Tolley,
Travel + Leisure,
16 May 2026
Noun
-
Madeira’s cliffs and ravines are difficult enough that many walking holidays there are guided and focused on one part of the island, including the eight-mile forest hike through Ribeiro Frio.—
Hanna Wickes,
Kansas City Star,
11 May 2026
-
The manhunt has so far been contained to Stewart County, where search crews are up against an immediate terrain of steep hills with deep ravines or hollows, the sheriff said.—
Emma Tucker,
CNN Money,
6 May 2026
Noun
-
These are also great for cleaning between small spaces if your bed has spindles or small crevices.—
Rebecca Jones,
Southern Living,
20 May 2026
-
Prevent Crickets From Returning Indoors Crickets often enter the home through small cracks and crevices, so prevention starts with sealing those entry points.—
Olivia McIntosh,
Martha Stewart,
16 May 2026
Noun
-
Klaus talks to his sister in California on an elegant brass and Bakelite 1940s telephone (the props are divine throughout), complete with operator interruptions.—
Leslie Felperin,
HollywoodReporter,
14 May 2026
-
Residents can generally expect to use household electrical appliances without interruptions, according to the company.—
Jeremy Hsu,
ArsTechnica,
12 May 2026
Noun
-
To make the case, everyone who cares about the magnificent red-rock canyons of Grand Staircase-Escalante and Southern Utah needs to act now.—
Scott Braden,
Denver Post,
19 May 2026
-
That diversity is reflected in the country’s landscapes—from desert canyons to alpine peaks and coastal shores—as well as in its regional cuisines, local traditions, and one-of-a-kind experiences.—
Travel + Leisure Editors,
Travel + Leisure,
19 May 2026
Noun
-
The cosmic web is the term scientists use to describe a skeleton-like framework of filaments and sheets of dark matter and gas along which galaxies gathered and evolved over time, which is punctuated by nearly empty voids.—
Robert Lea,
Space.com,
15 May 2026
-
The claim, remember, is that these cosmic voids are completely empty of normal matter, dark matter, and emit no detectable radiation of any kind.—
Big Think,
Big Think,
26 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Over nearly two decades, BIGBANG has weathered member departures, legal controversies, and years-long hiatuses.—
Hanna Wickes,
Sacbee.com,
20 Mar. 2026
-
More than half of the interview subjects self-funded their hiatuses.—
Colleen Newvine,
Los Angeles Times,
17 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Gaps.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/gaps. Accessed 25 May. 2026.
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