What does gape mean?
Gape is a vivid English verb describing the opening of the mouth wide, usually because someone is astonished, amazed, or exhausted. In the expression “gape at,” it means to stare with one's mouth open, conveying amazement, disbelief, or awe. The word can also describe something standing wide open, as when a door “gapes open” or a crack “gapes” in a wall. As a noun, a gape is an open-mouthed look or an instance of opening wide. Its force comes from making a familiar physical reaction unusually conspicuous: the person or object is not merely open but conspicuously, often dramatically, open. Gape is common in both British and American English and appears in everyday speech as well as descriptive writing. It is especially useful when an event is so striking that silence and an open-mouthed stare communicate more than words.
To open the mouth wide, especially in astonishment, surprise, or awe; to stare with one's mouth open; or to be wide open.
"He gaped at the vast expanse of the empty hall."
The expression “gape at” typically implies amazement, astonishment, or disbelief.
An act or appearance of opening the mouth wide, especially an open-mouthed stare expressing astonishment; also, by extension, a wide gap or opening.
"The crowd fell silent, and every face wore a gape of surprise."
As a noun, gape is less frequent than the verb and is often used with expressions such as “a gape of astonishment.”
The standard plural of the noun is “gapes,” although the singular noun is much more common in modern usage.
"His gapes of astonishment amused the children."
Gape captures the instant when surprise is so intense that the mouth opens all by itself.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does gape come from?
The verb comes through Middle English from Old English geapian, meaning “to open the mouth wide” or “to yawn.” Its history belongs to a wider Germanic family of words for gaping or yawning, reflected in Dutch gapen, German gähnen, Danish gabe, and Swedish gapa. The noun meaning an open mouth or an open-mouthed stare developed later from the verb.
Related word forms
How gape is actually used
The verb is neutral in register but strongly visual and expressive. It often conveys astonishment, wonder, or disbelief, and can occasionally suggest a comic or exaggerated reaction.
Easily confused with gape
A gap is an opening or space between objects, whereas a gape is an act or appearance of opening the mouth widely or staring with one's mouth open.
To gasp is to take a sudden, often frightened breath, while to gape is principally to open the mouth wide or stare open-mouthed.