open-mouthed

The child stood open-mouthed in front of the magician's rabbit.

Definition

1. Adjective:
   • Having the mouth open: "open-mouthed" describes a state where someone's mouth is wide open, typically as a reaction to surprise, shock, amazement, or intense concentration.
   • Expressing astonishment or awe: Used figuratively to describe a person who is so amazed or shocked that they are left speechless or with their mouth agape.

Usage Examples

• (They were amazed, with mouths open in wonder.)
• (She was shocked and speechless, her mouth hanging open.)
• (He was awestruck, his mouth open in disbelief.)

Advanced Usage

• "to leave someone open-mouthed": to cause someone to be so surprised or impressed that they stand with their mouth open.

  • The final plot twist left the entire audience open-mouthed. (The twist was so shocking that everyone was stunned.)

• "open-mouthed wonder": a state of amazement where the mouth is open involuntarily.

  • The tourists gazed at the ancient ruins with open-mouthed wonder. (They were filled with awe and curiosity.)

Variants and Related Words

• Open-mouthedness (noun, rare): the quality or state of being open-mouthed.

  • His open-mouthedness at the announcement was unmistakable. (His visible shock was clear.)

• Open (adj): not closed or blocked.

  • The door was left open. (The door was not shut.)

• Mouthed (adj): having a particular kind of mouth (used in compounds like "wide-mouthed" or "small-mouthed").

  • The frog was wide-mouthed. (It had a large mouth.)

Synonyms

• Agape: with the mouth wide open, especially in wonder or surprise.

  • He stood agape at the sight. (His mouth was open in amazement.)

• Gaping: wide open, often used to describe a mouth or hole.

  • She stared with a gaping mouth. (Her mouth was open wide.)

• Astounded: greatly surprised or shocked.

  • They were astounded by the performance. (They were amazed, though not necessarily with mouths open.)

Related Idioms

• To be open-mouthed in astonishment: to be so surprised that one's mouth falls open.

  • The crowd was open-mouthed in astonishment at the acrobat's daring feat. (They were stunned into silence with open mouths.)

• To stand open-mouthed: to remain motionless with the mouth open due to shock or awe.

  • He stood open-mouthed, unable to speak. (He was frozen in amazement.)