gap

American  

[gap] / gæp /

noun

• gaps
  plural

1. a break or opening, as in a fence, wall, or military line; breach.

   We found a gap in the enemy's line of fortifications.

2. an empty space or interval; interruption in continuity; hiatus.

   a momentary gap in a siren's wailing; a gap in his memory.

   Synonyms:

   lull, interlude, break, interstice, pause

3. a wide divergence or difference; disparity.

   the gap between expenses and income; the gap between ideals and actions.

4. a difference or disparity in attitudes, perceptions, character, or development, or a lack of confidence or understanding, perceived as creating a problem.

   the technology gap; a communications gap.

5. a deep, sloping ravine or cleft through a mountain ridge.

6. Chiefly Midland and Southern U.S. a mountain pass.

   the Cumberland Gap.

7. Aeronautics. the distance between one supporting surface of an airplane and another above or below it.

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verb (used with object)

gapped, gapping

1. to make a gap, opening, or breach in.

verb (used without object)

gapped, gapping

1. to come open or apart; form or show a gap.

gap British  

/ ɡæp /

noun

1. a break or opening in a wall, fence, etc

2. a break in continuity; interruption; hiatus

   there is a serious gap in the accounts

3. a break in a line of hills or mountains affording a route through

4. a gorge or ravine

5. a divergence or difference; disparity

   there is a gap between his version of the event and hers

   the generation gap

6. electronics

   1. a break in a magnetic circuit that increases the inductance and saturation point of the circuit

   2. See spark gap

7. to remedy a deficiency

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verb

1. (tr) to make a breach or opening in

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• gapless
  adjective
• gappy
  adjective

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• gaps
  plural

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Etymology

Origin of gap

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English, from Old Norse: “chasm”; akin to Old Norse gapa “to open the mouth wide” ( see gape ( def. ))

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Explanation

A gap is the space between two things. It can be physical (like "the gap between your two front teeth") or philosophical (like "the generation gap" between you and your parents). Gap is a small word that packs a lot; it can be used in a straightforward manner: in England, the signs in the subway station say, "Mind the gap" — in hopes that passengers will not wander into the space between the train and the platform. The American retailer, "The Gap," is said to have taken its name from the generation gap. The clothes were designed for teenagers and young adults, and therefore nothing your middle-aged parents would be caught dead in. Times change.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

gap gaps gapped gapping

Regret is most striking among young Latinas: 42 percent said they would not vote for him again, a 12-point gap with young Latino men.

From Salon ● Nov. 2, 2026

Iotova won 35 percent of the vote in the first round last week, with Gyurov on 32 percent -- a much narrower gap than the 20-point lead for Iotova predicted by opinion polls.

From Barron's ● Nov. 1, 2026

That gap helped shape prevailing theories about ape evolution.

From Science Daily ● Nov. 1, 2026

But in last week's Budget, Healey said that younger workers would see the same increase as older workers, leaving a gap between the two rates this year.

From BBC ● Oct. 31, 2026

She turned and edged sideways -quickly, quickly -then dropped to her knees and reached through the gap to drag the gear in after her.

From "Wolf Brother" by Michelle Paver

UnidosUS’ survey found significant gender gaps between Latino men and women.

From Salon ● Nov. 2, 2026

To fill the remaining data gaps, we built a geostatistical model that combines real-world data with local environmental and socioeconomic factors.

From Science Daily ● Oct. 30, 2026

Davidson, said Nvidia identifies parts of the AI ecosystem that are not investing enough and puts money into them to fill the gaps.

From Barron's ● Oct. 30, 2026

"So what tends to happen is that criminal justice matters can often fall between the gaps between debates in the Senedd and debates in Westminster," he added.

From BBC ● Oct. 26, 2026

I have to admit the structure did look a little rough, with huge gaps in the walls and a tilt to one side, but at least it stayed standing.

From "Courage to Soar" by Simone Biles

After all, hyperscalers are doing the heavy lifting, not the relatively “tiny” segment of AI companies with below investment-grade credit ratings, where spreads have gapped out considerably, he said.

From MarketWatch ● Oct. 21, 2026

Intel gapped up 24% on April 24 following a well-received earnings report, breaking out of a bull flag.

From Barron's ● Jun. 24, 2026

I gapped the tappets and points, checked the oil, flipped the choke, hit the starter.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Dec. 4, 2025

The rouble gapped down to a 15-month low in Moscow.

From Reuters ● Jun. 26, 2023

It was a hatchet; not sight but touch told him —a hatchet with a heavy worn handle and a heavy gapped rust-dulled blade.

From "Absalom, Absalom!" by William Faulkner

That setup broke out at the very round $300 level on Feb. 18, with shares gapping higher by 16%.

From Barron's ● May 27, 2026

Barkley tallied on a 13-yard run through a gapping hole for New York’s TD.

From Seattle Times ● Dec. 4, 2022

“We’re still minding the gapping and set configuration concerns, while we upgrade the feel and the impact experience,” Jertson said.

From Golf Digest ● Jul. 10, 2017

Their philosophy was to keep blockers off Urlacher with big, two gapping defensive linemen. 

From Chicago Tribune ● May 24, 2013

Cade Hernandez raised his right hand in front of his chin, nodding confidently and gapping his thumb and index finger about three-fourths of an inch.

From "100 Sideways Miles" by Andrew Smith

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Related Words

• chasm
• crack
• cut
• difference
• disagreement
• disparity
• divergence
• divide
• division
• hole
• inconsistency
• rift
• void

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