Definition

1. Adjective:
   • Having a wide opening; wide open: Describes something that is open very widely, often creating a large or conspicuous opening.
   • Staring with the mouth wide open in wonder, awe, or shock: Describes a person or expression characterized by the mouth being involuntarily open due to strong emotion like surprise, amazement, or fear.

Usage Examples

• Adjective:
  • The gaping hole in the fence was large enough for the dog to escape. (The wide opening in the fence allowed the dog to get out.)
  • She stared at the magician with gaping amazement. (She looked at the magician with her mouth wide open in surprise.)
  • The explosion left a gaping wound in the ship's hull. (The explosion created a very large, open wound in the side of the ship.)

Advanced Usage

• "gaping void/chasm": A metaphor for a very large and profound emptiness or difference.

  • There is a gaping void in the literature on this topic. (There is a very significant lack of research on this subject.)
  • The new policy created a gaping chasm between the rich and the poor. (The policy caused a huge and obvious division between social classes.)

• "stand gaping": To stand still while staring with one's mouth open.

  • The tourists stood gaping at the size of the ancient pyramids. (The tourists stood motionless, looking at the pyramids with their mouths open in awe.)

Variants and Related Words

• Gape (verb): To stare with one's mouth open; to be or become wide open.
  • The children gaped at the fireworks. (The children stared at the fireworks with open mouths.)
• Agape (adjective/adverb): With the mouth wide open, especially in surprise or wonder. Often used similarly to "gaping."
  • The audience watched, mouths agape. (The audience watched with their mouths wide open.)

Synonyms

• Yawning: Very wide open (often for a space or hole).
• Agape: Open-mouthed (specifically for a person's expression).
• Wide-open: Fully open.

Antonyms

• Closed: Shut.
• Shut: Not open.
• Narrow: Of small width.

Related Phrases

• Gaping mouth: A mouth that is wide open.
  • He had a gaping mouth, too stunned to speak. (His mouth was open wide because he was too shocked to talk.)
• Gaping hole: A very large and obvious hole.
  • The sinkhole was a gaping hole in the middle of the road. (The sinkhole was a large, open cavity in the road surface.)

Adjective

1. with the mouth wide open as in wonder or awe
   • the gaping audience
   • we stood there agape with wonder
   • with mouth agape