stand in the gap

verb

To expose oneself for the protection of something; to make defence against any assailing danger; to take the place of a fallen defender or supporter.

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Meanings

verbstand in the gap (third-person singular simple present stands in the gap, present participle standing in the gap, simple past and past participle stood in the gap)

present singular third person stands in the gap · participle present standing in the gap · participle past stood in the gap · past stood in the gap

  1. idiomaticTo expose oneself for the protection of something; to make defence against any assailing danger; to take the place of a fallen defender or supporter.
Cite this entry
APA

stand in the gap. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 5, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/stand%20in%20the%20gap

MLA

“stand in the gap.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/stand%20in%20the%20gap. Accessed November 5, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “stand in the gap,” accessed November 5, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/stand%20in%20the%20gap.

Source: stand in the gap on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.