Definition

1. Verb:

   • To be or become wide open: To have a large opening or to open very wide, often describing something like a hole, mouth, or wound.
   • To stare with the mouth open in surprise or wonder: To look at something with your mouth open because you are very surprised, shocked, or amazed.

2. Noun:

   • A wide opening: An act or instance of something being wide open; a gap.
   • A stare of open-mouthed astonishment: A look on someone's face showing they are very surprised or amazed, with their mouth open.

Examples of Usage

• Verb:

  • The crater gaped in the landscape after the explosion. (The crater was very wide open in the landscape.)
  • The children gaped at the magician's incredible trick. (The children stared with their mouths open at the trick.)
  • His shirt was torn, and a hole gaped at the shoulder. (His shirt was torn, and a hole was wide open at the shoulder.)

• Noun:

  • A deep gape in the earth made the path dangerous. (A deep, wide opening in the earth made the path dangerous.)
  • His face was a picture of gape and disbelief when he heard the news. (His face showed a look of open-mouthed astonishment when he heard the news.)

Advanced Usage

• "The gapes" (noun, informal/humorous): A state of frequent yawning or a fit of yawning.
  • I've had the gapes all morning; I didn't sleep well last night. (I have been yawning frequently all morning.)

Variants and Related Words

• Gaping (adjective): Describing something that is very wide open.
  • They stood at the edge of the gaping chasm. (They stood at the edge of the very wide open chasm.)
• Gaper (noun): A person who stares openly in amazement.
  • The street performer attracted a crowd of gapers. (The street performer attracted a crowd of people staring in amazement.)

Synonyms

• Verb: Stare, gawk, ogle, yawn (open wide).
• Noun: Stare, gaze, yawn, chasm, opening.

Related Phrasal Verbs/Constructions

• Gape at: To stare at someone or something with your mouth open because of surprise.
  • Tourists often gape at the size of the ancient pyramids. (Tourists often stare with open mouths at the size of the pyramids.)
• Gape open: To be or become wide open. (Often used as an adjective phrase: "gapingly open" is less common).
  • The door gaped open, revealing the empty room inside. (The door was wide open.)

Related Idioms

• To stand gaping: To stand still while staring in open-mouthed surprise.
  • When the spaceship landed, they could only stand gaping. (When the spaceship landed, they could only stand and stare with their mouths open.)

Noun

1. a stare of amazement (usually with the mouth open)
2. an expression of openmouthed astonishment

Verb

1. be wide open
   • the deep gaping canyon
2. look with amazement; look stupidly