gape
gb/ɡˈeɪp/ us/ɡˈeɪp/
B2
English
szájtátva bámul, tátong, tárva-nyitva áll, tátja a száját, rés, nyílás, szájtátás
VERB
B2
1
Usage pattern:
gape at [someone/something]
Tourists stopped to gape at the waterfall.
A turisták megálltak, és szájtátva bámulták a vízesést.
She gaped in disbelief when she heard the news.
Amikor meghallotta a hírt, hitetlenkedve csak szájtátva bámult.
Don’t just stand there gaping—help me!
Learner examples
He gaped at the huge cake.
Szájtátva bámulta a hatalmas tortát.
I gaped in surprise.
Meglepetésemben csak szájtátva bámultam.
Common mistake:
Don’t use *gape* for a normal look; it usually suggests surprise and an open mouth.
Meaning
stare with mouth open
Collocations
gape at someone
|gape at something
|gape in astonishment
|gape in amazement
|gape in disbelief
|stand there gaping
|sit there gaping
|gape stupidly
|gape helplessly
|left them gaping
Synonyms
gawk (More informal; can sound rude.)
|
stare (More neutral; does not necessarily imply an open mouth.)
Antonyms
glance (A quick look, not a long open-mouthed stare.)
|
ignore (Not looking at all.)
Themes
emotions
|communication
|daily_life
Definition
To stare at something with your mouth open, usually because you are surprised.
To look at someone or something for a long time, often with your mouth open, because you are surprised, impressed, or curious.
VERB
C1
2
tátong
B2
Usage pattern:
[opening] gapes (open)
The front door gaped open when we got home.
Amikor hazaértünk, a bejárati ajtó tárva-nyitva állt.
A dark hole gaped in the side of the hill.
A domb oldalában sötét lyuk tátongott.
The cut gaped wide and needed stitches.
Learner examples
The window gaped open.
Az ablak tárva-nyitva állt.
A hole gaped in the wall.
Egy lyuk tátongott a falban.
Common mistake:
In this sense, *gape* is usually intransitive (you don’t ‘gape the door’).
Meaning
be wide open
Collocations
gape open
|door gaped open
|window gaped open
|wound gaped
|hole gaped
|mouth gaped
|gaping crack
|gaping entrance
|gaping mouth
|gape wide
Synonyms
yawn (Often used for large openings in the ground or buildings; more literary.)
|
stand open (More neutral and less dramatic.)
Antonyms
close (Move from open to shut.)
|
seal (Close tightly so nothing can pass through.)
Themes
daily_life
|health
|materials
Definition
To be open very wide.
To be open very wide, especially in an unnatural or striking way, like a door, hole, or wound.
VERB
B2
3
Usage pattern:
gape (wide)
He gaped for air after running up the stairs.
Miután felszaladt a lépcsőn, tátott szájjal kapkodta a levegőt.
The baby gaped wide and started to cry.
A kisbaba nagyra tátotta a száját, és sírni kezdett.
She gaped, unable to find the words.
Learner examples
I gaped for air.
Tátott szájjal kapkodtam a levegőt.
She gaped wide.
Nagyra tátotta a száját.
Common mistake:
This sense focuses on the mouth opening, not on looking at something (compare ‘gape at’).
Meaning
open your mouth very wide
Collocations
gape wide
|gape for air
|gape helplessly
|gape like a fish
|gape in surprise
|gape silently
|gape foolishly
|gape with exhaustion
|gape with shock
|gape open-mouthed
Synonyms
open (More general; does not imply ‘very wide’ or surprise.)
|
yawn (Specifically opening the mouth wide from tiredness or boredom.)
Antonyms
shut (Close the mouth.)
Themes
body
|health
|daily_life
Definition
To open your mouth wide.
To open your mouth wide, for example when yawning, breathing heavily, or showing surprise.
NOUN
C1
4
Usage pattern:
a gape in [something]
There was a gape in the fence where the boards had broken.
Rés támadt a kerítésen ott, ahol a deszkák eltörtek.
A dark gape opened between the rocks.
A sziklák között sötét nyílás nyílt.
The building’s entrance was a wide gape of shattered glass.
Learner examples
There is a gape in the fence.
Rés van a kerítésen.
Common mistake:
The noun *gape* is less common than the verb; learners often use *gap* instead in everyday speech.
Meaning
a wide opening or gap
Collocations
a wide gape
|a dark gape
|a gape in the wall
|a gape in the hedge
|fill the gape
|a gape between teeth
|a sudden gape
|a narrow gape
|a yawning gape
|a gaping abyss
Synonyms
gap (More common and less dramatic.)
|
opening (General word; may sound less negative.)
Antonyms
closure (The state of being shut.)
|
seal (A tight closing with no opening.)
Themes
daily_life
|materials
|nature
Definition
A big open space or gap.
A wide opening or gap, especially one that seems empty, deep, or alarming.
NOUN
C1
LITERARY
5
szájtátás
C1
Usage pattern:
give [someone] a gape
He answered with a helpless gape.
Tehetetlen szájtátással felelt.
She met the accusation with a blank gape.
Üres szájtátással fogadta a vádat.
The joke was followed by a long gape of confusion.
Common mistake:
This noun sense is uncommon in everyday conversation; ‘stare’ is usually preferred.
Meaning
an open-mouthed stare
Collocations
a blank gape
|a stupid gape
|a startled gape
|a gape of astonishment
|with a gape
|freeze in a gape
Synonyms
stare (More common; doesn’t necessarily imply an open mouth.)
Antonyms
smile (A friendly facial expression, not a shocked stare.)
Themes
emotions
|communication
Definition
A surprised stare with your mouth open.
An act of gaping; a long, open-mouthed stare showing surprise or confusion.
Grammar
Dictionary form
gape
IPA
GB/ɡˈeɪp/
US/ɡˈeɪp/
Syllables & stress
gape (1 syllable)
Stress on 1st syllable (gape)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: gape
- Plural: gapes
Verb
- Base: gape
- 3rd Person Singular: gapes
- Present Participle: gaping
- Past: gaped
Word family
Forms
gapes
noun
gaping
verb
gaped
verb
Advanced or less common
agape
adjective
Expressions
a gaping hole in [something]
1/ə ɡˈeɪpɪŋ hˈoʊl ˈɪn sˈʌmθɪŋ/
idiom
major absence or missing part
A big missing part or problem that is easy to notice.
Examples
- The proposal has a gaping hole in its cost estimates.
- Her sudden departure left a gaping hole in the team.
- That explanation leaves a gaping hole in the story.
Learner examples
- This plan has a gaping hole in it.
gape open
1/ɡˈeɪp ˈoʊpən/
fixed phrase
be wide open
To be open very wide.
Examples
- The cupboard door gaped open all night.
- Her mouth gaped open when she saw the mistake.
- A suitcase lay on the bed, gaping open.
Learner examples
- The door was gaping open.
gaping hole
1/ɡˈeɪpɪŋ hˈoʊl/
fixed phrase
large, very noticeable hole
A very big, easy-to-see hole.
Examples
- There was a gaping hole in the roof after the storm.
- The car hit a barrier and left a gaping hole in the fence.
- A gaping hole opened in the ground beside the path.
Learner examples
- There is a gaping hole in the wall.
leave [someone] gaping
1/lˈiv sˈʌmwˌʌn ɡˈeɪpɪŋ/
idiom
shock someone greatly
To surprise someone a lot.
Examples
- The final plot twist left the audience gaping.
- His answer left me gaping with surprise.
- The size of the bill left them gaping.
Learner examples
- The news left me gaping.
stand there gaping
1/stˈænd ðˈɛɹ ɡˈeɪpɪŋ/
fixed phrase
informal
stand staring in surprise
To stand and stare because you are surprised.
Examples
- Don’t just stand there gaping—call an ambulance!
- They stood there gaping as the magician made the card disappear.
- I stood there gaping, not sure what to say next.
Learner examples
- Don’t stand there gaping.