# gap

/ˈɡæp/ (US) · /ɡˈæp/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/gap
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 1. physical space

noun · CEFR A2

an empty space between two physical objects.

For teachers: a physical opening or break in a continuous structure or between two objects.

- The sheep managed to squeeze through a small gap in the fence.
- The surveyor noted a significant gap between the two structural beams, suggesting that the foundation had shifted during the winter.

### 2. time or sequence

noun · CEFR B1

a period of time when nothing happens or something is missing.

For teachers: an interruption in continuity or a period of time where an activity is suspended.

- There was a long gap between the first and second seasons of the show.
- After a ten-year gap in her employment history, she found it challenging to re-enter the competitive legal market.

### 3. difference or disparity

noun · CEFR B1

a big difference between two groups, such as rich and poor people.

For teachers: a metaphorical distance or disparity between two sets of people, ideas, or statistics.

- The government is trying to close the gap between the rich and the poor.
- Sociologists are concerned that the digital gap is widening as technology becomes more expensive and essential for basic education.

### 4. missing information

noun · CEFR B2 · Academic

something that is missing from a story or a set of information.

For teachers: a deficiency or lack of something needed to complete a whole, such as knowledge or evidence.

- There are several gaps in his story that make it hard to believe.
- The researcher identified a critical gap in the existing literature regarding the long-term effects of microplastics on soil health.

### 5. mountain pass

noun · CEFR B2 · American English

a low place between two mountains that people can travel through.

For teachers: a deep sloping pass or notch through a mountain range.

- The pioneers traveled through the Cumberland Gap to reach the west.
- The narrow gap provided the only viable route for the railway to cross the rugged mountain range without extensive tunneling.

### 6. to leave a space

verb · CEFR C1 · Technical

to open up or leave a space between things.

For teachers: to create an opening or to fall open so as to leave a space.

- The floorboards began to gap as the old wood dried out.
- The heavy curtains were poorly fitted and gapped at the bottom, allowing light to spill into the dark room.

### 7. to outrun

verb · CEFR C2 · Slang

to move much faster than someone else in a race.

For teachers: to increase the distance between oneself and a competitor by a significant margin.

- The lead runner gapped the rest of the pack in the final mile.
- By the third lap, the champion cyclist had gapped the peloton, leaving his rivals struggling to maintain his aggressive pace.

## Examples

- There is a small gap under the door.
- The company is trying to bridge the gap between its older customers and younger tech-savvy users.
- The widening gap between the two political factions has made it increasingly difficult for the legislature to pass even the most basic bipartisan funding bills.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.