gap

A gap is an empty space or opening between two things. Think of it as a hole or a break where something is missing — like a space between two fence posts, or the space left when you lose a tooth.

everyday language · Modern, widely used

The cat squeezed through a gap in the fence.

There is a small gap between the door and the floor.

He smiled, and you could see a gap where his front tooth used to be.

social issues, business, education · Modern, widely used · figurative

There is a large gap between the richest and the poorest people in the country.

The gap in test scores between the two schools is worrying.

We need to close the gap between what students learn and what employers need.

3nounfigurativemissing part or need

When something important is absent or has not been done yet, you can call that a gap. It is like a blank space that needs to be filled. You will often hear phrases like 'fill a gap' or 'gap in the market'.

business, education, research · Modern, widely used · figurative

The new app fills a gap in the market — nobody had made anything like it before.

There are some gaps in his knowledge of grammar that he needs to work on.

A gap can also be a period of time when nothing is happening, or when you pause something. For example, a 'gap year' is a year some students take off between school and university.

everyday language, education · Modern, widely used

There was a long gap in the conversation — nobody knew what to say.

After a gap of ten years, he returned to playing the piano.