gawp

American  

[gawp] / gɔp /

Or gaup

verb (used without object)

Chiefly Northern U.S.

1. to stare with the mouth open in wonder or astonishment; gape.

   Crowds stood gawping at the disabled ship.

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gawp British  

/ ɡɔːp /

verb

1. slang to stare stupidly; gape

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Other Word Forms

• gawper noun

Etymology

Origin of gawp

1720–30; British dial., continuing obsolete galp, Middle English galpen, perhaps blend of Middle Dutch galpen to yawn and Middle English gapen to gape

Example Sentences

As rescuers tended to the stricken mammal, Mr Heslop-Mullens said people "should treat it as an animal and not as something to gawp at".

From BBC • May 2, 2023

At least 6,000 people — maybe half the city’s population — was supposed to have been trying to gawp as Rodolfo Silvas and Francisco Martinez were led out.

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 8, 2022

Samsung, for example, had giant augmented reality versions of its devices appear during its August Unpacked event live stream for its onstage presenters to pretend to gawp at.

From The Verge • Dec. 18, 2020

I was between full-time jobs and wanted to take advantage of my open schedule to jet to Southeast Asia to slurp noodles and gawp at the Transformer-sized Buddhas.

From Washington Post • Feb. 26, 2020

When the girl grabs her apron, Cook turns from her onion, and I stifle a gasp, trying not to gawp at the ruin of her face.

From "An Ember in the Ashes" by Sabaa Tahir