26984 words

gaps

17 definitions • 28 examples
1
an empty space or opening in the middle of something or between two things:

Examples:

gap in The children squeezed through a gap in the wall.
gap between She has a small gap between her front teeth.
2
in baseball, an area of ground between two outfielders (= players who stand in the part of the field that is the longest distance away from the player who tries to hit the ball):

Examples:

He drove the ball into the gap in right centre.
3
in ice hockey, the amount of space between a player who is controlling the puck and a defending player:

Examples:

If you are a defender, it helps to keep the gap small so as to limit the places your opponent can go.
McCall used the wide gap to his advantage and set up a powerful shot.
4
a lack that means something is not complete:

Examples:

gap in There are still many gaps in our knowledge of how people lived in ancient times.
The test will help to reveal any gaps in your understanding.
As they studied his account, they found gaps and inconsistencies.
5
an opportunity for a product or service that does not already exist:

Examples:

There is a gap in the magazine market that needs to be filled.
6
a difference between two things:

Examples:

gap between The gap between rich and poor is still widening (= becoming greater).
bridge a gap The president singled out education as a vital tool in bridging the gap between rich and poor.
7
a period of time spent doing something different:

Examples:

gap of After a gap of five years, Jennifer decided to go back to work full-time.
8
an empty space or opening in the middle of something or between two things:

Examples:

Picking up speed, she closed the gap between them.
She has a gap between her front teeth.
9
A gap can be a period in which something does not happen:

Examples:

After a gap of five years, Juanita decided to go back to work full-time.
10
A gap can also be something lacking:

Examples:

Some people read to fill in gaps in their education.
11
A gap can also be a difference between people:

Examples:

He was trying to bridge the gap between elders and youth, the middle class and poor.
12

Examples:

Forecasters are predicting a budget gap of nearly $17 bn next year.
There is a $40 million shortfall in emergency aid, and the EU is increasing its donation to close the gap.
13
something that is missing from a situation:

Examples:

close/fill gaps in sth The Bill aims to close gaps in existing law on fraud.
growing/widening gap New federal projections for job openings this decade show a growing gap in the training and education required for workers.
14
a period in which something does not happen:

Examples:

Most see a gap between finishing education and starting work as a positive thing.
15
a difference between people or their situations:

Examples:

gap between sth and sth The gap between rich and poor is growing all the time.
close/fill/widen the gap Excessive bonuses have only served to widen the gap between executives and other staff.
We have nearly closed the math and science gender gap in education for girls.
16
an opportunity to sell a product or service because a need or demand for it exists but no one is supplying it:

Examples:

Spotting a gap in the market, she decided to set up a clothes storage service.
17
to make the difference between two things smaller:

Examples:

Financing was slow to come in and the city took out a bond to bridge the gap.
bridge the gap between sth and sth The program helps working families bridge the gap between income and rent.

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