gap

GAP/ɡæp/

Pluralgaps

21 meanings of gap

1
nouncountable
An empty space, or a period of time with nothing in it.
There was a wide gap between the two parked cars.
We had a short gap in the schedule before lunch.
Similarspace, interval, break, window
2
nouncountable
A missing amount or part: something that should be there but is not.
Like a hole in your pocket where the money should be.
There is a gap in our funds this month.
The team has a real gap in skilled workers right now.
Similarshortfall, deficit, hole, disparity, imbalance
Oppositesurplus
Note
3
nouncountable
A hole or open space made when something breaks or splits apart.
Like the open space left when you snap a stick in two.
The storm left a gap in the old stone wall.
He squeezed through a gap in the broken fence.
Similarbreach, hole, opening, crack, break
Note
4
nouncountable
An open space that lets people or things pass through.
Like a doorway left open in a long fence.
We walked through a gap in the hedge to reach the field.
There's a gap in the wall that leads to the garden.
Similaropening, hole, break, breach
5
nouncountable
A pause or break in something that usually keeps going.
Like the quiet moment when a song stops before the next begins.
There was a long gap between the two songs.
After a short gap, the music started up again.
Similarbreak, pause, hiatus, interruption
6
nouncountable
A weak or missing part that shows something is not complete or safe.
Like a crack in a wall that lets the cold in.
There is a gap in our security plan that worries me.
The lawyer found a gap in the contract.
Similarloophole, flaw, weakness, hole, deficiency
7
nouncountable
A low place between hills or mountains where you can cross.
Like a low dip you can walk through in a line of hills.
The trail led us through a narrow gap in the hills.
Travelers crossed the range through a high mountain gap.
Similarpass, col, notch, saddle
8
verbtransitive
To make a hole or opening in something, or to break through it.
Like punching a hole in a paper bag.
Engineers feared the flood would gap the levee.
The explosion gapped the fortress wall in seconds.
Similarbreach, rupture
9
nouncountable
In baseball, the open space between the outfielders where a hit ball can drop in.
Like the open lane between two players where a ball can slip through.
She hit the ball into the gap for an easy double.
The fast runner reached third after finding the gap.
Similaralley
Note
10
nounliteraryAustralia
The difference between native peoples and others in things like health, schooling, and how long people live.
Like two runners in a race where one starts far behind the other.
The government promised to close the gap in health care.
Schools are working to narrow the gap for indigenous children.
Similardisparity, divide, gulf, inequality
Oppositeparity, equality
Note

11
nounAustraliacountable
The part of a medical bill that your insurance does not pay and you must cover yourself.
Like when a coupon pays part of the price and you pay the rest.
We had to pay the gap after the hospital visit.
Her insurance covered most of it, but there was still a gap.
Similarshortfall
Note
12
verbintransitive
To fall or spread open in a way that leaves an empty space.
Like a shirt that won't button up all the way, leaving an open space.
The fence boards gap where the wood has dried and shrunk.
Her blouse gapped between the buttons when she leaned forward.
Similargape, part, open, split
Oppositeclose, meet
Note
13
verbtransitive
To measure how wide a space or opening is.
Like using a ruler to check that a space is the right width.
You should gap the spark plug before putting it back.
He gapped the new plugs with a small tool.
Similarset, adjust, measure
Note
14
verbtransitive
To make a small notch or dent in the edge of a blade.
Like leaving a little chip in the edge of a kitchen knife.
He gapped his knife cutting through the bone.
Don't gap the blade by using it on wire.
Similarnotch, nick, chip
15
verbslangtransitive or intransitive
To get far ahead of another person or team in a race or game.
Like a runner pulling so far ahead that no one else can catch up.
On the last lap she gapped the whole field.
The leaders gap as soon as the climb gets steep.
Similaroutpace, outrun, outdistance, outstrip, drop
Note
16
nouncountable
A spot in a row of lined-up DNA or protein sequences where part is missing.
Like a missing puzzle piece in a row of pieces lined up side by side.
The software marked a gap where the two genes failed to line up.
Even a single gap in the alignment can change the result.
Note
17
verbslangNew Zealandintransitive
To leave a place quickly and without warning.
Like slipping out the back door before anyone notices.
He gapped before anyone could ask him questions.
Let's gap before the rain starts.
Similarleave, split, bounce, bolt, scram
Oppositestay
Note
18
nounslangeuphemisticcountable
A slang word for the vagina.
He made a rude joke about her gap, and she walked off.
She told him to stop staring at her gap.
Note
19
nouncountable
A protected stretch of coast lying between two cliffs, used mostly in place names.
Like a calm little bay tucked between two tall cliffs.
Small boats anchored safely inside the gap during the storm.
The path led us down into a quiet gap between the cliffs.
Similarcove
Note
20
verbdatedUStransitive or intransitive
To stare at someone or something with your mouth open in surprise.
Like standing with your mouth open at something amazing.
It's rude to gap people like that.
They gapped at the magician for a full minute.
Similargape, stare, gawk, gawp, goggle
Note
21
noun
Another spelling of gup. It means the elected head of a gewog, a local district in Bhutan.
The village elected a new gap last spring.
The gap settled the dispute between the two families.
Note

Practice

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Origins

Meanings 1–19

From Old Norse gap, meaning an empty space or chasm, which came from a word meaning to gape or open wide.

Meaning 20

A variant of gape.