open-mouthed

American  

[oh-puhn-mouthd, -moutht] / ˈoʊ pənˈmaʊðd, -ˈmaʊθt /

adjective

1. having the mouth open.

2. gaping, as with surprise or astonishment.

   Synonyms:

   thunderstruck, confounded

3. greedy, ravenous, or rapacious.

4. clamoring at the sight of game or prey, as hounds.

5. vociferous or clamorous.

6. having a wide mouth, as a pitcher or jar.

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open-mouthed British  

adjective

1. having an open mouth, esp in surprise

2. greedy or ravenous

3. clamorous or vociferous

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Other Word Forms

• open-mouthedly adverb
• open-mouthedness noun

Etymology

Origin of open-mouthed

First recorded in 1525–35

Example Sentences

Longtime Hartford residents are staring wide-eyed and open-mouthed at the sudden housing boom.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 3, 2026

“And I remember, what was it—Bill Belichick’s girlfriend wasn’t even born yet?” he joked, leaving Hudson open-mouthed in surprise, while her partner simply chuckled along with the rest of the audience.

From MarketWatch • Dec. 3, 2025

When Anges’ initial screams twist into silent, open-mouthed sobs, “Hamnet” briefly becomes a conduit for grief’s potency.

From Salon • Nov. 30, 2025

Mobula rays feed by swimming open-mouthed through plankton-rich regions of the ocean and filtering plankton particles into their gullet as water streams into their mouths and out through their gills.

From Science Daily • Nov. 25, 2024

Chains rattle, rivers roll, animals startle and bolt, forests inspire and expand, babies stretch open-mouthed from the womb, new seedlings arch their necks and creep forward into the light.

From "The Poisonwood Bible" by Barbara Kingsolver

Related Words

• amazed
• bemused
• breathless
• captivated
• enthralled
• rapt