as in to stare
to look long and hard in wonder or surprise
tourists in London gawping at royalty
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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 gawp
In response, the women maneuvered their craft behind some brush, hiding from the soldiers gawping at them from the bank.
—
Literary Hub, 26 May 2026
Italian nonne stirred pots full of sauce with a look of utter boredom and, here and there, Neapolitan ragazzi sat atop their motorini and gawped at the torture.
—Douglas Stuart, New Yorker, 12 Apr. 2026
Day trips to Amalfi-style Taormina are well-advised for those who have yet to gawp at its clifftop panoramas across the Mediterranean or its film star hotels, as are jaunts to the rambling flea markets and splendidly scruffy trattorias of nearby Catania.
—Rosalyn Wikeley, Condé Nast Traveler, 10 Jan. 2026
And best of luck finding something else to gawp at on one of the Big Four nets.
—Anthony Crupi, Sportico.com, 9 Jan. 2025
Through the Looking Glass The optimal viewing angle for gawping at your spatial creations runs over a 58-degree viewing cone.
—New Atlas, 12 Dec. 2024
For others, gawping at the sheer volume and opulence of Ertegun’s stuff is its own illicit thrill, like rifling through the bedroom drawers of a hostess at a dinner party.
—The Editors, Curbed, 2 Dec. 2024
But earlier iterations of the fashion show were often peppered with inappropriate jokes at the models’ expense, with its in-studio audience being largely made up of gawping men.
—Tara John, CNN, 16 Oct. 2024
Early in the game, you’re given the ability to slow down time, a power-up that doesn’t just lead to inventive platforming across rapidly moving razor-sharp knives but the opportunity to gawp further at the spectacle.
—Lewis Gordon, Vulture, 5 Sep. 2024
Literary Hub, 26 May 2026
Italian nonne stirred pots full of sauce with a look of utter boredom and, here and there, Neapolitan ragazzi sat atop their motorini and gawped at the torture.
—Douglas Stuart, New Yorker, 12 Apr. 2026
Day trips to Amalfi-style Taormina are well-advised for those who have yet to gawp at its clifftop panoramas across the Mediterranean or its film star hotels, as are jaunts to the rambling flea markets and splendidly scruffy trattorias of nearby Catania.
—Rosalyn Wikeley, Condé Nast Traveler, 10 Jan. 2026
And best of luck finding something else to gawp at on one of the Big Four nets.
—Anthony Crupi, Sportico.com, 9 Jan. 2025
Through the Looking Glass The optimal viewing angle for gawping at your spatial creations runs over a 58-degree viewing cone.
—New Atlas, 12 Dec. 2024
For others, gawping at the sheer volume and opulence of Ertegun’s stuff is its own illicit thrill, like rifling through the bedroom drawers of a hostess at a dinner party.
—The Editors, Curbed, 2 Dec. 2024
But earlier iterations of the fashion show were often peppered with inappropriate jokes at the models’ expense, with its in-studio audience being largely made up of gawping men.
—Tara John, CNN, 16 Oct. 2024
Early in the game, you’re given the ability to slow down time, a power-up that doesn’t just lead to inventive platforming across rapidly moving razor-sharp knives but the opportunity to gawp further at the spectacle.
—Lewis Gordon, Vulture, 5 Sep. 2024
Recent Examples of Synonyms for gawp
Verb
-
The two appear to stare at one another for a period of time before the train arrives, according to surveillance video and comments made by MARTA Police Chief Scott Kreher.—
Irene Wright,
USA Today,
8 June 2026
-
After a perfect drive on 18, Korda took the walk that so many champions have taken, strolling up Riviera’s famed 18th fairway, staring at the overflow crowd sitting around the green that was waiting to cheer her victory.—
Bob Buttitta,
Daily News,
8 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
Verb
-
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
-
As a scorching wind tears across the barren, rocky slopes of Komote Island off the shore of Lake Turkana in northern Kenya, Alfred Lenkutuk sits in the meager shelter of his hut, gazing out over the village where he was born and remembering better times.—
Tommy Trenchard,
NPR,
31 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Gawp.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/gawp. Accessed 9 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
