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

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. ))

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

But "the AI buildout is climbing onto a steeper section of track just as the gap between capital spending and internal cash generation narrows", he warned.

From Barron's ● Jul. 28, 2026

But experience is in short supply - a glaring gap in this Liverpool squad and one that needs to be addressed.

From BBC ● Jul. 27, 2026

This inner gap likely helped capture and preserve Io, Europa, and Ganymede as they moved through the disk.

From Science Daily ● Jul. 27, 2026

Yet Barclays analysts expect the U.S. to face a roughly $2 trillion budget deficit in 2026, and see Treasury issuance playing a role in filling that gap.

From MarketWatch ● Jul. 26, 2026

He had bright hazel eyes and a shiny, toothy smile with a slight gap between his two front teeth.

From "Endgame" by Frank Brady

But shares are virtual and can be moved instantaneously, so arbitragers usually step in and profit from any significant gaps between dual-listed stocks.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 26, 2026

It is already clear Santos is happy sitting deep, taking the ball off defenders, spotting gaps in passing lanes and pressurising opponents.

From BBC ● Jul. 25, 2026

McElwee finds images both startling and serene; videos that fill in gaps he couldn’t on his own.

From Salon ● Jul. 24, 2026

Salary-transparency laws can “help narrow pay gaps and reduce wage discrimination” among demographic groups including women and people of color, said Keith Spencer, a career expert at ResumeNow.

From MarketWatch ● Jul. 22, 2026

In the following days, days filled with dark gaps of time, Odenigbo did not go to Tanzania Bar.

From "Half of a Yellow Sun" by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie

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

Earlier this week, SPX gapped higher on the end-of-the-shutdown rally.

From MarketWatch ● Nov. 13, 2025

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

From Reuters ● Jun. 26, 2023

We are deadened by the strain—a deadly tension that scrapes along one’s spine like a gapped knife.

From "All Quiet on the Western Front: A Novel" by Erich Maria Remarque

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

This climate allows adhesive to dry more quickly and prevents gapping between freshly placed boards.

From Seattle Times ● Dec. 5, 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

Related Words

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