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gapping

American

[gap-ing] / ˈgæp ɪŋ /

noun

Linguistics.

a rule of transformational grammar by which repeated instances of a verb are deleted from conjoined sentences, as in the deletion of brought from Mary brought the bread, John the cheese, and Bill the wine.

gapping British

/ ˈɡæpɪŋ /

noun

(in transformational grammar) a rule that deletes repetitions of a verb, as in the sentence Bill voted for Smith, Sam for McKay, and Dave for Harris
the act or practice of taking a gap year

"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

Etymology

Origin of gapping

gap + -ing ¹

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Kimberly-Clark’s acquisition of Kenvue sent the former gapping down to a key round-number level, while TreeHouse Foods is being taken out at nearly a 25% premium.

From Barron's • Nov. 24, 2025

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

From Seattle Times • Dec. 4, 2022

Seventeen sole grind/loft/bounce options offer plenty of choices for gapping and fitting to swing and turf conditions.

From Golf Digest • Jul. 15, 2019

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

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023