gape

[ geyp, gap ]

/ geɪp, gæp /

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See synonyms for: gape / gaped / gaping on Thesaurus.com

verb (used without object), gaped, gap·ing.

to stare with open mouth, as in wonder.

to open the mouth wide involuntarily, as the result of hunger, sleepiness, or absorbed attention.

to open as a gap; split or become open wide.

noun

a wide opening; gap; breach.

an act or instance of gaping.

a stare, as in astonishment or with the mouth wide open.

a yawn.

Zoology. the width of the open mouth.

OTHER WORDS FOR gape

2, 3 yawn.

See synonyms for gape on Thesaurus.com

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Origin of gape

1175–1225; Middle English, from Old Norse gapa “to open the mouth wide”; compare German gaffen

synonym study for gape

1. See gaze.

OTHER WORDS FROM gape

gap·ing·ly, adverbsub·gape, verb (used without object), sub·gaped, sub·gap·ing.un·gap·ing, adjective

Words nearby gape

Gao Xingjian, Gaoxiong, gap, gap 1, gap 2, gape, gaper, gapes, gapeseed, gapeworm, gaping

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2022

How to use gape in a sentence

We want to relate to their humanity rather than gape at their untouchable infallibility.
Britney Spears Is the Last of the Pop Goddesses|Kevin Fallon|December 3, 2013|DAILY BEAST
The Western Kentucky Hilltoppers are represented by a gape-mouthed dancing blob named Big Red.
A Method to March Madness|Ben Teitelbaum|March 20, 2013|DAILY BEAST
Gape at the chart that shows the chilling growth in derivatives, just one flavor of “structured product.”
Soothsayers of Silicon Valley|Adam Hanft|October 23, 2008|DAILY BEAST
All the way we see people of so many kinds we have never seen before that it is difficult not to stand still and gape.
Round the Wonderful World|G. E. Mitton

We gape, we grasp, we gripe, add store to 10 store; / Enough requires too much; too much craves more.
Dictionary of Quotations from Ancient and Modern, English and Foreign Sources|James Wood
Once more the wedge was driven to the heart, until again the sides were spread a-gape.
Indian Legends of Vancouver Island|Alfred Carmichael
Moulder, Gape, and Snengkeld together could not make him pay for wine he had neither ordered nor swallowed.
Orley Farm|Anthony Trollope
"In commercial rooms, as the gentleman must be aware, the rule is as stated by my friend on my right," said Mr. Gape.
Orley Farm|Anthony Trollope

British Dictionary definitions for gape

gape

/ (ɡeɪp) /

verb (intr)

to stare in wonder or amazement, esp with the mouth open

to open the mouth wide, esp involuntarily, as in yawning or hunger

to be or become wide openthe crater gaped under his feet

noun

the act of gaping

a wide opening; breach

the width of the widely opened mouth of a vertebrate

a stare or expression of astonishment

Word Origin for gape

C13: from Old Norse gapa; related to Middle Dutch gapen, Danish gabe

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

gape

OTHER WORDS FOR gape

Origin of gape

synonym study for gape

OTHER WORDS FROM gape

Words nearby gape

Words related to gape

How to use gape in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for gape

Word Origin for gape