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gape
This word carries a strong visual of shock, awe, or sheer disbelief. It is far more passive and involuntary than staring; it implies a loss of composure where the physical reaction of the jaw dropping precedes any conscious thought. It often suggests a sense of vulnerability or foolishness in the person gaping.
When used to describe a physical opening, the word evokes a sense of emptiness or a jarring breach. It describes a hole that is not just open, but aggressively wide, often conveying a feeling of horror or starkness, such as a gaping maw or a gaping void.
Meanings
Examples
Stop gaping at me and help me carry these boxes.
The tourists could only gape at the sheer scale of the cathedral.
I just stood there and gaped in disbelief when she told me the news.
Why are you gaping like a fish? Close your mouth.
The wound gaped open after the bandage slipped off.
A huge crater gaped in the middle of the road after the explosion.
The dragon let out a roar as its jaws gaped wide to swallow the knight.
He gaped at the screen as the final score flashed in red.
The old cellar door gaped open, revealing a dark staircase leading down.
Phrasal Verbs
gape open
to be wide open or to open very wide
The heavy doors gape open, inviting guests into the grand ballroom.