What does agape mean?
Agape is a word with two distinct lives in English. In its most common everyday use, it works as an adjective or adverb meaning wide open — typically describing a mouth hanging open in surprise, awe, or disbelief, as in 'the audience sat agape.' Its second life is far older and more profound: borrowed directly from ancient Greek, agape names selfless, unconditional love, a concept central to Christian theology where it denotes the self-giving love God shows humanity and that believers are called to show one another, distinct from romantic or brotherly love. The two senses are unrelated in origin yet coexist in the language, which makes agape unusually versatile. Whether describing a stunned expression or the noblest form of love, the word carries vividness and weight, appearing everywhere from casual narration to sermons and literature.
Wide open, especially of a mouth in surprise or amazement.
"He stared agape at the towering waves crashing against the cliff."
Almost always used predicatively after a person or group, often with verbs like stand, stare, or sit.
In a state of open-mouthed astonishment or wonder.
"The crowd watched the eclipse, agape at the darkened sky."
Selfless, unconditional love, especially as a spiritual or theological concept in Christianity.
"The sermon explored agape as a love that asks nothing in return."
Pronounced differently from the adjective (AH-guh-pee); used chiefly in religious, philosophical, and academic writing.
The ancient Greeks had four words for love — and agape was the highest one: pure, selfless love given without expecting anything back.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of agape
The adjective and adverb 'agape' derives from the verb 'gape,' meaning to open the mouth widely, and has described open-mouthed wonder since at least the early modern period. The noun 'agape' comes independently from the ancient Greek word agápē, meaning selfless love, which early Christians adopted as a central theological term alongside eros and philia. The Greek root also survives in the botanical name agapanthus, literally the 'flower of love.'
How agape is actually used
The word functions as two distinct terms that happen to share a spelling: the everyday adjective/adverb 'agape' (pronounced uh-GAYP) describing something wide open, and the theological noun 'agape' (pronounced AH-guh-pee or AG-uh-pee) denoting unconditional love. The noun sense appears mainly in religious, philosophical, and literary contexts.
Easily confused with agape
Gape is the verb meaning to stare with an open mouth, while agape is the adjective or adverb describing the resulting open-mouthed state.