adj
Uncommon
gaping
GAY-pihng
Gaping (adj) means Wide open, especially describing a large hole, wound, or crack. Example: “The explosion left a gaping hole in the wall.”
adj
1
Wide open, especially describing a large hole, wound, or crack.
"There’s a gaping hole in the fence."
"The explosion left a gaping hole in the wall."
"There was a gaping crack running across the ceiling."
How to use gaping
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishDescribes something opened up very wide, like a big hole or wound.
Common pairings
a gaping hole
a gaping wound
a gaping void
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Word forms
- Plural
- gapings
- Comparative
- more gaping
- Superlative
- most gaping
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The explosion left a _____ hole in the wall.
Etymology
This comes from Middle English gaping, gapynge, variants of Middle English gapand, gapande, equivalent to gape plus -ing.
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for gaping
See all rhymes for gaping →Frequently asked questions
What does “gaping” mean?
The word “gaping” means wide open, especially describing a large hole, wound, or crack. In plain terms, describes something opened up very wide, like a big hole or wound.
How do you pronounce “gaping”?
“Gaping” is pronounced GAY-pihng (/ˈɡeɪpɪŋ/ in IPA).
How do you use “gaping” in a sentence?
Here is “gaping” used in a sentence: “The explosion left a gaping hole in the wall.”
What part of speech is “gaping”?
“Gaping” is an adjective.
Is “gaping” a common word?
“Gaping” is an uncommon word in modern English.
