noun
gap
gap
noun
1
An empty space or opening between two things, or a break in something continuous.
"There was a gap in the fence where the wood had rotted away."
"She squeezed through a gap between the parked cars."
2
A difference or shortfall between two things, especially an unfair or worrying one.
"The report highlighted the growing pay gap between men and women."
"Extra tutoring helped close the gap in his grades."
verb
1
To leave open or unfilled, creating a gap; also, to stare open-mouthed.
"The old floorboards had started to gap after years of use."
How to Use Gap
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA space where something is missing, or the difference between two amounts or situations.
Common mistake
The Gap the clothing brand is unrelated in spelling logic but named after the "generation gap" — don't confuse casual use of "the gap" with the countable noun.
Common pairings
a gap in the market
bridge the gap
wage gap
gap year
Word Forms
gapped past tense, gapped past tense, gaps plural, gaps singular, gaps singular
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There was a _____ in the fence where the wood had rotted away.
Etymology
From Old Norse gap ("an empty space, chasm"), related to gapa, "to gape" — gap and gape share the same root.