gape

Stare with astonishment

Gape means to stare with the mouth open, usually in wonder, surprise, or stupidity: Tourists gaped at the cathedral's vaulted ceiling.

It also describes something wide open—a gaping wound, a gaping hole.

The noun gape refers to this open-mouthed stare or the width of an opening: the gape of a bird's beak.

opening

chasm

Deep, steep-sided gap

  • voidWithout legal effect
  • abyssImmeasurably profound depth
  • fissureNarrow crack in rock

crevice · rift · breach · crack · gap · aperture · cavity · hole · cleft · mouth

stare

gawk

Stare openly, stupidly

  • gawpStare stupidly, mouth open
  • ogleStare lustfully at
  • goggleStare with wide eyes

rubberneck · stare · eyeball · peer · gaze · leer · glare · watch · observe · fixate

fish

grouper

Large predatory reef fish

  • bassDeep pitch or fish
  • codCold-water food fish
  • anglerfishBioluminescent deep-sea predator

moray · jaw · gill · mouth · gulping · underwater · aquarium · marine · catch

astonishment

slack-jawed

Mouth open from shock

aghast · thunderstruck · stupefied · flabbergasted · gobsmacked · open-mouthed · speechless · incredulous · astounded · amazed

yawn

drowsy

Nearly falling asleep

  • sleepyWanting to doze
  • boredLacking interest or engagement
  • tiredLacking energy, needing rest

fatigued · weary · lethargic · soporific · languid · listless · nodding · dozy · slack · stretch

Categories
Opposites
duration and intensity of looking

gapeglance

Brief, casual look

glimpse · peek · peep · look away · ignore

mouth position

gapeclose

Nearby or to shut

shut · purse · seal · compress · clench

spatial opening

gapeclose

Nearby or to shut

shut · join · unite · seal · merge

Phrases
Family

gaping, agape, gapes, gaped, gaper, gapers

Familiarity
Top 100,000
Profile
Known to kids · Used worldwide · Timeless · Concrete · Everyday, not technical · Rated G