gap

plural gaps

1. An opening in anything, made by breaking or parting.

   He made a gap in the fence by kicking at a weak spot.

   Synonyms: break, hole, rip, split, tear, rift, chasm, fissure

2. An opening allowing passage or entrance.

   We can slip through that gap between the buildings.

   Synonyms: break

3. An opening that implies a breach or defect.

   There is a gap between the roof and the gutter.

   Synonyms: space

4. A vacant space or time.

   I have a gap in my schedule next Tuesday.

   Synonyms: break

5. A hiatus, a pause in something which is otherwise continuous.

   I'm taking a gap.

   1 more example

   You must wait for a gap in the traffic before crossing the road.

6. A vacancy, deficit, absence, or lack.

   She has a gap in her teeth.

   4 more examples

   Their departure has left a gap in the workforce.

   Find words to fill the gaps in an incomplete sentence.

   The yawning gap in neuroscientists’ understanding of their topic is in the intermediate scale of the brain’s anatomy. Science has a passable knowledge of how individual nerve cells, known as neurons, work. It also knows which visible lobes and ganglia of the brain do what. But how the neurons are organised in these lobes and ganglia remains obscure. Yet this is the level of organisation that does the actual thinking—and is, presumably, the seat of consciousness.

   2013 August 3, “The machine of a new soul”, in The Economist, volume 408, number 8847

   But there is a wide gap between the dollars being invested in creators and the respect that is paid to them. It is time to take influencers seriously.

   2026 March 9, Cyrus Veyssi, “In Defense of Influencers”, in TIME, archived from the original on 14 Mar 2026

7. A mountain or hill pass.

   The exploring party went through the high gap in the mountains.

   Synonyms: col, neck, pass

8. SussexA sheltered area of coast between two cliffs (mostly restricted to place names).

   At Birling Gap we can stop and go have a picnic on the beach.

9. ball gamesThe regions between the outfielders.

   Jones doubled through the gap.

10. AustraliaThe shortfall between the amount the medical insurer will pay to the service provider and the scheduled fee for the item.

    Under bulk billing the patient does not pay a gap, and the medical practitioner receives 85% of the scheduled fee.

    2008, Eileen Willis, Louise Reynolds, Helen Keleher, Understanding the Australian Health Care System, page 5

11. AustralialiteraryusuallyThe disparity between the indigenous and non-indigenous communities with regard to life expectancy, education, health, etc.
12. biologyAn unsequenced region in a sequence alignment.
13. euphemisticslangThe vagina.

    Synonyms: axe wound, bearded clam, beaver, berk, bonne bouche, box, bun, bush

present singular third person gaps · participle present gapping · participle past gapped · past gapped

1. transitiveTo notch, as a sword or knife.
2. transitiveTo make an opening in; to breach.
3. transitiveTo check the size of a gap.

   I gapped all the spark plugs in my car, but then realized I had used the wrong manual and had made them too small.

4. especiallyintransitiveslangtransitivehobbiesTo surpass (someone or something) by a considerable margin.

   When you avoid getting buffed next patch due to your players gapping

   2024 July 6, @Rubiflorid, Twitter, archived from the original on 18 Jul 2024

   5 more examples

   Honestly K&C could release today with like a bit more SOT buffs and they'd probably still gap a lot of the game

   2022 May 4, u/jhawk1117, “Two units that were really ahead of their time”, in Reddit, r/DBZDokkanBattle, archived from the original on 18 Jul 2024

   sometimes dril gets absolutely gapped by average ukraine war reddit comments

   2023 May 23, @slime_machine, Twitter, archived from the original on 18 Jul 2024

   Imagine street racing someone then suddenly both of you get gapped by a slammed tiger tank 😂 AKA der "Drippenwagen"

   2023 December 19, @kommanderkarl, Twitter, archived from the original on 18 Jul 2024

   "Not really the reason his team lost" is still not showing up by Chovy's standarts. Like in a way you're downplaying how good this guy has been domestically the last 3-4 years. He is comfortably the best player in the league and is utterly gapping every other midlaner in the league series after series, year after year.

   2024 March 9, u/djpain20, “T1 vs. Gen.G / LCK 2024 Spring - Week 7 / Post-Match Discussion”, in Reddit, r/leagueoflegends, archived from the original on 18 Jul 2024

   My sports car gets gapped by families of 5 in these all the time and they don't even know we're racing

   2024 May 14, u/DM-Me-Your_Titties, “Kia reveals mid-life update to EV6.”, in Reddit, r/cars, archived from the original on 18 Jul 2024

5. New ZealandslangTo leave suddenly.

   [Article title:] 'They've just gapped it': Duo fled quarantine authorities after gang funeral

   2020 June 17, “'They've just gapped it': Duo fled quarantine authorities after gang funeral”, in Newstalk ZB, archived from the original on 13 Oct 2022

6. intransitiveTo fall or spill open so as to leave a gap.

   The robe gaps open at the waist, breasts spilling out of a lacy bra that looks like she might have had it since her college days.

   2007 July [2006], Jeanne C. Stein, Blood Drive (Anna Strong; 2), →ISBN, page 60

7. intransitivetransitiveOf an electric train, to be positioned, or to cause to be positioned, between electrical pickup points, causing loss of power.

   The lights flickered as the train momentarily gapped.

   1 more example

   The train was gapped just outside the station, and passengers were stranded for nearly two hours.

plural gaps

1. alternativeAlternative form of gup (“elected head of a gewog in Bhutan”).

present singular third person gaps · participle present gapping · participle past gapped · past gapped

1. USdatedintransitiveslangtransitiveTo stare or gape.

   Well, dey would all begin stretchin' and gappin', and den some of dem would say, with a gap and another stretch: […]

   1904, Chuck Connors, Bowery Life, New York, N.Y.: Richard K. Fox Publishing Company, unnumbered page

1. A town, the capital of the department of Hautes-Alpes, Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur, France.

1. abbreviationacronymAcronym of guilty anticipated plea.

   Antonyms: NGAP

1. abbreviationacronymAcronym of Great Ape Project.