English vocabulary · B2
Gape
/ɡeɪp/ · v.
To gape is to open your mouth wide and look, without moving. You do this when something is so surprising that you forget to close your mouth.
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Example sentences
- The tourists gaped at the huge waterfall.
- He gaped when he won the lottery.
Word origin and roots
from Old Norse
- gapa — open mouth (from Old Norse)
Synonyms and nuances
- STARE — look for a long time (Fixed And Silent)
- GAWK — stare in a rude way (Rude And Clumsy)
- GOGGLE — stare with wide eyes (Wide-Eyed Shock)
Words with the same root
gapa — open mouth
- gap — an empty opening or space
Lesson notes
To gape is to open your mouth wide and look, without moving. You do this when something is so surprising that you forget to close your mouth.
Related: stare, gawk, goggle. Use gape when shock freezes your face.
The tourists gaped at the huge waterfall. He gaped when he won the lottery.
From Old Norse. Gapa- means open mouth. Wide open and frozen with surprise — that is gape.