gap
B1Neutral (used across formal, informal, academic, and technical contexts)
Definition
Meaning
A break or opening in something continuous; an unfilled space or interval.
A noticeable difference, separation, or disparity between two things; a lack of something needed or expected.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
The word implies a negative or problematic absence, especially in extended meanings (e.g., 'skills gap,' 'gender pay gap'). The literal sense is neutral.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Usage is largely identical. Minor differences exist in specific compounds (e.g., 'gap year' is more commonly discussed in UK contexts, but understood globally).
Connotations
Identical connotations in both varieties.
Frequency
Equally frequent and core in both BrE and AmE.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
There is a gap [between/in/at]...The gap [widened/narrowed]to gap [open/wide] (verb)Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Mind the gap!”
- “Stop-gap measure”
- “Generation gap”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Refers to market opportunities, performance deficits, or financial shortfalls (e.g., 'funding gap,' 'product gap').
Academic
Used for disparities in research, knowledge, or achievement (e.g., 'research gap,' 'achievement gap').
Everyday
Common for physical spaces, time intervals, or differences in understanding (e.g., 'a gap in the fence,' 'a gap between appointments').
Technical
In IT/engineering: a missing functionality or data; in dentistry: a space between teeth.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- The old floorboards had started to gap, letting in a draught.
- The police line momentarily gapped, allowing the protesters through.
American English
- The dry soil had gapped into deep cracks.
- The defense gapped open, and the running back scored.
adverb
British English
- N/A
American English
- N/A
adjective
British English
- N/A (not standard). 'Gappy' is informal for having gaps.
American English
- N/A (not standard). 'Gap-toothed' is a common compound adjective.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- There is a gap in the wall.
- She waited for a gap in the traffic before crossing.
- The report highlights a gap in our knowledge.
- After the lecture, there was a fifteen-minute gap before the seminar.
- The new policy aims to bridge the gap between urban and rural healthcare access.
- A significant generation gap became apparent during the discussion.
- The researcher identified a critical gap in the extant literature, which her thesis seeks to address.
- Arbitrage traders exploit momentary pricing gaps across different financial markets.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a map with a missing piece – that's a GAP in the map.
Conceptual Metaphor
DISTANCE IS DIFFERENCE (e.g., 'the gap between rich and poor'), ABSENCE IS A HOLE (e.g., 'a gap in the market').
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid directly translating 'gap' as 'пробел' (probél) in all contexts; 'probél' is strong for textual/moral gaps. For a physical opening, use 'щель' (shchel') or 'промежуток' (promezhutok). For a disparity, 'разрыв' (razryv) or 'разница' (raznitsa) may be better.
Common Mistakes
- Using 'hole' for a non-physical disparity (e.g., 'a hole between theory and practice'*). Confusing 'gap' with 'lack' – a 'gap' implies a specific missing part within a structure, while a 'lack' is a general absence.
Practice
Quiz
Which of the following uses of 'gap' is metaphorical?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It is neutral and used confidently in both formal and informal registers.
Yes, but it's less common and means 'to open or cause to have a gap' (e.g., 'The planks gapped after the flood').
A 'gap' is typically an opening *between* two things or a break in continuity. A 'hole' is an opening *in* something, often implying depth (e.g., a gap in a schedule vs. a hole in the ground).
It's a famous warning on the London Underground, telling passengers to be careful of the space between the train and the platform edge.