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
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 gaps
At smaller hospitals like Winona Health, those savings can fill gaps left by Medicaid and Medicare reimbursements, which often don’t cover the full cost of providing that care.
—
Dené K. Dryden, Twin Cities, 8 May 2026
To close persistent gender gaps in nursing, leaders must invest in accessible funding for nurses’ education, expand outreach to men, and amplify men working in nursing as mentors to future applicants.
—Nicholas A. Giordano, STAT, 8 May 2026
Seal holes and gaps in your home or garage to keep rodents from entering.
—Natassia Paloma, USA Today, 8 May 2026
They were created to fill the gaps in your nutrition and provide you with a balanced diet.
—Bestreviews, Chicago Tribune, 8 May 2026
If elected, Cohen told this editorial board his top three priorities will be reducing the cost of home building; addressing the gaps in health care coverage created by recent federal cuts to Medi-Cal; and electrifying our economy to reduce carbon emissions.
—Mercury News & East Bay Times Editorial Boards, Mercury News, 8 May 2026
Seasonal moisture changes can cause wood floors to expand, shift or become uneven, leading to loose boards or small gaps.
—Angie Hicks, Boston Herald, 8 May 2026
Edmonton preferred to sit back and defend closer to their own net, leaving the Ducks free to pass the puck on the perimeter and exploit gaps in the coverage.
—Elliott Teaford, Oc Register, 8 May 2026
And with the start of the season just around the corner, what better time to take stock of your current dress collection and fill in the gaps?
—Elly Leavitt, Vogue, 8 May 2026
Dené K. Dryden, Twin Cities, 8 May 2026
To close persistent gender gaps in nursing, leaders must invest in accessible funding for nurses’ education, expand outreach to men, and amplify men working in nursing as mentors to future applicants.
—Nicholas A. Giordano, STAT, 8 May 2026
Seal holes and gaps in your home or garage to keep rodents from entering.
—Natassia Paloma, USA Today, 8 May 2026
They were created to fill the gaps in your nutrition and provide you with a balanced diet.
—Bestreviews, Chicago Tribune, 8 May 2026
If elected, Cohen told this editorial board his top three priorities will be reducing the cost of home building; addressing the gaps in health care coverage created by recent federal cuts to Medi-Cal; and electrifying our economy to reduce carbon emissions.
—Mercury News & East Bay Times Editorial Boards, Mercury News, 8 May 2026
Seasonal moisture changes can cause wood floors to expand, shift or become uneven, leading to loose boards or small gaps.
—Angie Hicks, Boston Herald, 8 May 2026
Edmonton preferred to sit back and defend closer to their own net, leaving the Ducks free to pass the puck on the perimeter and exploit gaps in the coverage.
—Elliott Teaford, Oc Register, 8 May 2026
And with the start of the season just around the corner, what better time to take stock of your current dress collection and fill in the gaps?
—Elly Leavitt, Vogue, 8 May 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for gaps
Noun
-
That alone changes the math — his cardio dropoff against Strickland was directly tied to the weight cut, and removing that variable fixes one of the only real holes in his game.—
Brian Mazique,
Forbes.com,
10 May 2026
-
Bullet holes could be seen in the back door of one of the homes.—
Alaa Elassar,
CNN Money,
10 May 2026
Noun
-
Sow cilantro seeds at intervals in spring and late summer to provide a continuous supply of tasty foliage followed by the beneficial blooms.—
Kim Toscano,
Southern Living,
9 May 2026
-
The little details are also covered—ice water delivered at regular intervals by beach staff, as well as complimentary kayaks, stand-up paddleboards, and snorkel gear, making a spontaneous adventure easy to come by.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
6 May 2026
Noun
-
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
-
Why not try and capture an image of the moon during each major phase (excluding the new moon) as the line separating night from day sweeps across the lunar surface throwing ancient craters, ravines and mountain ranges into relief.—
Anthony Wood,
Space.com,
1 May 2026
Noun
-
An old toothbrush can be handy for cleaning out smaller crevices.—
Libby Monteith Minor,
Southern Living,
26 Apr. 2026
-
Seal any cracks and crevices with caulk.—
Kate Van Pelt,
The Spruce,
25 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
The system can process harder requests, manage interruptions, and continue conversations naturally.—
Aamir Khollam,
Interesting Engineering,
7 May 2026
-
Construction on the people mover was initially supposed to be substantially complete by December 2018, and service interruptions were supposed to be kept to a minimum during construction.—
Kori Rumore,
Chicago Tribune,
6 May 2026
Noun
-
Zion Canyon Scenic Drive, Zion National Park, Utah Zion National Park in southwestern Utah is known for spectacular scenery that includes colorful mountains, peaks, sandstone formations, canyons, waterfalls, cliffs, and wildlife.—
Patricia Doherty,
Travel + Leisure,
3 May 2026
-
Early the next morning, the crew hunted out some more canyons to cruise.—
Michael Van Runkle,
Robb Report,
1 May 2026
Noun
-
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
-
Schoen used void years sparingly early in his tenure, but the Giants are one of the few teams currently with no contracts containing voids.—
Dan Duggan,
New York Times,
3 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 12 May. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
