# gaping

/ˈɡeɪpɪŋ/ (US) · /ɡˈeɪpɪŋ/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/gaping
Updated: 2026-08-27

## Senses

### 1. wide open

adjective · CEFR B2

wide open, especially when talking about a hole, a wound, or a space.

For teachers: wide open and often deep; typically used to describe physical apertures, wounds, or metaphorical voids.

- The earthquake left a gaping hole in the middle of the main road.
- The hikers were forced to turn back when they encountered a gaping crevasse that was too wide to jump across safely.

### 2. mouth open in surprise

adjective · CEFR C1 · Literary

having your mouth wide open because you are very surprised or shocked.

For teachers: having the mouth wide open, typically as a result of astonishment, awe, or stupefaction.

- The children stood with gaping mouths as the magician made the elephant disappear.
- The audience remained in gaping silence for several seconds after the soloist finished the final, haunting note of the concerto.

### 3. the act of staring

noun · CEFR C2 · Technical

the act of staring at something with your mouth open.

For teachers: the act of staring or opening the mouth wide; in zoology, refers to a specific threat or courtship display.

- The bird's aggressive gaping was enough to scare the cat away from the nest.
- Ethologists observed that the gaping behavior served as a primary defensive mechanism against potential predators in the nesting colony.

## Examples

- The hiker carefully avoided the gaping hole in the middle of the path.
- The earthquake left a gaping crack in the highway that made the road completely impassable for emergency vehicles.
- The protagonist stood before the gaping entrance of the cavern, feeling a mixture of primal dread and intense curiosity about the secrets hidden within its depths.

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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.