gap

IPA/ɡæp/
KK[ɡˈæp]IPA/ɡæp/

gap — noun

  • gapsingular
  • gapsplural

1. an area in or between two objects where there is nothing solid, so that light, a

1.nounB2
Definition

an area in or between two objects where there is nothing solid, so that light, air, or small things can pass through

Example

Sunlight streamed through a narrow gap in the curtains and woke the children.

gap in [physical object]

The builders left a small gap between the floorboards so the wood could expand in warm weather.

gap between [two things]

Common collocations
  • narrow gap
  • small gap
  • wide gap
  • fill a gap
  • close a gap
  • leave a gap
Synonyms
  • opening

    more general; a gap is a specific type of opening, usually narrow

  • space

    broader; gap implies something missing between things that should be closer

  • hole

    a gap is usually long and narrow; a hole is often round or into something

Grammar Patterns

gap + between + plural noun phrase

gap + in + noun phrase

Usage Note

Countable. Often used with a prepositional phrase beginning with 'between' or 'in' to specify the location.

Common Mistakes

There is a gap on the fence.
There is a gap in the fence.
use 'in' for openings within a surface, and 'between' for the space separating two objects.

2. the stretch of field separating two baseball outfielders, where a strongly hit b

2.nounB2
Definition

the stretch of field separating two baseball outfielders, where a strongly hit ball can roll past them for extra bases

Example

The batter hit the ball into the gap between left and center field for a double.

hit into the gap

A fast runner can turn a hit into the gap into a triple if the outfielders are slow to react.

Common collocations
  • hit into the gap
  • cover the gap
  • close the gap
  • gap in the outfield

Grammar Patterns

hit into the gap

gap between [outfielders]

Usage Note

Used mainly in American baseball commentary and coaching. Not common in everyday conversation outside of sports contexts.

3. the space in ice hockey between the puck carrier and the closest defender who is

3.nounB2
Definition

the space in ice hockey between the puck carrier and the closest defender who is trying to block their progress

Example

The defenseman closed the gap quickly, forcing the puck carrier to pass before reaching the blue line.

close the gap

A skilled forward can exploit a small gap between defenders to create a clear scoring opportunity.

Common collocations
  • close the gap
  • tight gap
  • reduce the gap
  • gap control
  • maintain the gap

Grammar Patterns

close the gap

gap + between + player and player

Usage Note

Specific to ice hockey strategy discussion. 'Close the gap' is the most common collocation in this sense.

4. something that is missing or not complete, so that the whole thing is not as goo

4.nounB2
Definition

something that is missing or not complete, so that the whole thing is not as good or useful as it should be

Example

The professor identified a gap in the student's understanding of basic algebra concepts.

gap in [knowledge/understanding]

After the accident, Cyrus had gaps in his memory of what had happened that evening.

Common collocations
  • fill a gap
  • gap in knowledge
  • identify a gap
  • address a gap
  • significant gap
Synonyms

Grammar Patterns

gap + in + noun phrase

fill + a/the gap

Usage Note

Countable. Frequently used in educational, professional, and research contexts to describe incomplete knowledge or resources.

Common Mistakes

There is a gap of knowledge about this topic.
There is a gap in knowledge about this topic.
when referring to missing parts of a body of knowledge, use 'in', not 'of'.

5. an opportunity to create or sell something that people want but that no company

5.nounB2
Definition

an opportunity to create or sell something that people want but that no company currently offers

Example

The startup identified a gap in the market for affordable electric bikes for city commuters.

gap in the market

Rachel's business idea came from spotting a gap in the local delivery service for organic groceries.

Common collocations
  • gap in the market
  • fill a gap
  • identify a gap
  • spot a gap
  • market gap
Synonyms
  • niche

    a gap is an unmet need; a niche is a specialized segment of a market

  • opportunity

    broader; a market gap is a specific type of business opportunity

Grammar Patterns

gap + in + the market / industry

fill + a gap

Usage Note

Common in business and entrepreneurship contexts. The fixed phrase 'gap in the market' is the most frequent form of this sense.

6. a large difference between two groups, amounts, or opinions, especially one that

6.nounB2
Definition

a large difference between two groups, amounts, or opinions, especially one that causes problems or is hard to reduce

Example

The gap between the rich and the poor continues to widen in many countries around the world.

gap between [groups]

Saira's parents struggled to understand the generation gap between themselves and their teenage daughter.

generation gap

Common collocations
  • generation gap
  • pay gap
  • wealth gap
  • gender gap
  • bridge the gap
  • widen the gap
  • narrow the gap
Synonyms
  • disparity

    more formal and emphasizes unfairness

  • divide

    suggests a separation that is hard to cross

  • difference

    more neutral; gap implies a large or problematic difference

Antonyms

Grammar Patterns

gap + between + plural noun phrase

generation gap

pay gap

wealth gap

Usage Note

Countable. Often used in social commentary about inequality (wealth gap, gender gap) or disagreements (opinion gap). 'Bridge the gap' is a common idiom meaning to reduce differences.

Common Mistakes

There is a big gap among the two groups.
There is a big gap between the two groups.
use 'between' for two groups, not 'among'.

7. the time between two events or activities, often used when someone chooses to do

7.nounB2
Definition

the time between two events or activities, often used when someone chooses to do something outside their normal routine

Example

After high school, Ayana decided to take a gap year to travel through Southeast Asia and volunteer.

gap year

There was a short gap of about three months between leaving her old job and starting the new one.

gap between [time periods]

Common collocations
  • gap year
  • gap between jobs
  • career gap
  • brief gap
  • long gap
  • fill a gap
Synonyms
  • break

    more general and can be any length; gap often implies a planned pause

  • hiatus

    more formal, often used for pauses in creative or professional work

  • interval

    more neutral; gap can feel longer or less structured than an interval

Grammar Patterns

gap + between + noun phrases (jobs, events)

gap year

gap + in + career/studies

Usage Note

Countable. 'Gap year' is a fixed phrase common in British and Australian English for a year taken between school and university. For other periods, specify the duration (e.g. 'two-year gap').

Idioms

bridge the gap

idiom

to reduce or remove the differences between two things or groups, making it easier for them to work together or reach agreement

The community program aims to bridge the gap between elderly residents and young families in the neighborhood.

Mentorship schemes can help bridge the gap between what students learn at school and what employers expect.

fill a gap / fill the gaps

idiom

to provide something that is missing or needed, making a situation complete or better

The new training program was designed to fill the gaps in employees' knowledge of data privacy laws.

Volunteer tutors helped fill a gap in after-school care for children in low-income neighborhoods.

stand in the gap

idiom

to take responsibility for a problem or situation when nobody else is willing or able to do so

When the local clinic closed, a group of nurses stood in the gap and provided basic care from a mobile unit.

Community volunteers stood in the gap to ensure children still received hot meals during the school closure.

gap — verb

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

「縫隙」指物體之間或內部的狹長空隙，是最貼近 gap 本義的翻譯，如牆壁裂縫、牙縫。若強調空洞可穿過則用「空隙」，如樹籬的空隙。擴展用法上，「差距」用於比較數字或程度（薪資差距、城鄉差距）；「缺口」偏指應有而缺少的部分（知識缺口、資金缺口）；「空檔」或「空窗期」則專指時間上的間隔（空檔年、職業空窗期）。簡言之：看得到、摸得到用縫隙／空隙；比較等級用差距；應有而無用缺口；時間中斷用空檔。

opening ↗hole ↗space ↗gap ↗

Common collocations

Adjectives

  • wide gap
  • narrow gap
  • big gap
  • small gap
  • yawning gap
  • generation gap
  • pay gap
  • gender gap
  • wealth gap
  • digital gap
  • cultural gap
  • communication gap
  • trade gap
  • age gap
  • funding gap
  • growing gap

Gap + noun

  • gap year
  • gap analysis
  • gap junction
  • gap insurance
  • gap financing
  • gap period
  • gap filler
  • gap measurement
  • gap width
  • gap detection
  • gap funding

Verbs + gap

  • bridge a gap
  • fill a gap
  • close a gap
  • narrow the gap
  • widen the gap
  • leave a gap
  • create a gap
  • reduce the gap
  • identify a gap
  • spot a gap
  • address a gap
  • cover a gap
  • exploit a gap
  • measure the gap
  • eliminate the gap

Prepositions

  • gap between
  • gap in
  • gap of
  • gap among
  • gap within
  • gap across
  • gap through
  • gap over
  • gap after
  • gap during

Etymology

Old NorseMiddle EnglishModern English

The word 'gap' entered English from Old Norse 'gap', meaning a chasm or empty space, and is related to Old English 'geapan' (to open wide). The core idea of an opening or empty interval has carried through all its later extended uses.