1
a
: a break in a barrier (such as a wall, hedge, or line of military defense)
b
: an assailable position
2
a
: a mountain pass
b
: ravine
3
4
a
: a separation in space
b
: an incomplete or deficient area
a gap in her knowledge
5
: a break in continuity : hiatus
6
: a break in the vascular cylinder of a plant where a vascular trace departs from the central cylinder
7
: lack of balance : disparity
the gap between imports and exports
8
: a wide difference in character or attitude
the generation gap
9
: a problem caused by some disparity
a communication gap
credibility gap
gapped; gapping
1
: to make an opening in
2
: to adjust the space between the electrodes of (a spark plug)
: to fall or stand open
Examples of gap in a Sentence
Noun
The child had a gap between her two front teeth.
The gap between the lead runner and the rest of the field continued to widen.
The sheep got through a gap in the fence.
There are unexplained gaps in his story.
The class filled in the gaps in my knowledge of biology.
She had taken several years off to raise a family, so there was a large gap in her work history.
Recent Examples on the Web
Jamie Carter, Forbes.com, 22 July 2025
But, as in James' case, such plans can have gaps in what care is covered, and more comprehensive private plans may be too expensive.
—Katheryn Houghton, NPR, 22 July 2025
Adam Sarhan, Forbes.com, 23 July 2025
The stock gapped up this morning but is giving up some of its gains, which could generate a trading opportunity.
—Nishant Pant, CNBC, 24 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for gap
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
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Noun
Why The Northern Lights Are Being Seen In The U.S.
The imminent potential display of aurora is due to a high-speed stream of solar wind coming from a coronal hole — a gap in the sun’s outer atmosphere, its corona, where solar wind escapes more freely into space.
—Jamie Carter, Forbes.com, 22 July 2025
But, as in James' case, such plans can have gaps in what care is covered, and more comprehensive private plans may be too expensive.
—Katheryn Houghton, NPR, 22 July 2025
Verb
The stock is prone to big moves after reporting earnings and can easily gap up if the numbers are strong.
—Adam Sarhan, Forbes.com, 23 July 2025
The stock gapped up this morning but is giving up some of its gains, which could generate a trading opportunity.
—Nishant Pant, CNBC, 24 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for gap
Cite this Entry
“Gap.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/gap. Accessed 29 Jul. 2025.
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