Gap
volume
British pronunciation/ɡˈæp/
American pronunciation/ˈɡæp/

Definition & Meaning of "gap"

Gap
01

a conspicuous disparity or difference as between two figures

02

a narrow opening

03

an open or empty space in or between things

04

an act of delaying or interrupting the continuity

05

a difference, particularly an unwanted one, causing separation between two people, situations, or opinions

06

a pass between mountain peaks

07

an empty or unpronounced position within a sentence or phrase, typically representing a missing word or element that is implied or understood from the context

What is a "gap"?

In linguistics, a gap refers to the absence of a word or phrase that is expected in a sentence, usually because it has been omitted for clarity or efficiency. Gaps often occur in constructions like gapping, where repeated elements are left out, or in relative clauses, where the missing element is understood from the context. For example, in the sentence "I want to go hiking, and she does too," there is a gap after "does" where the phrase "want to go hiking" would typically be expected. Understanding gaps is important for analyzing sentence structure and how meaning is conveyed in language without unnecessary repetition.

08

an opportunity for a product or service that is not currently available

example
Example
click on words
The company saw a gap in the market for eco-friendly packaging.
She noticed a gap in the tech industry for user-friendly devices.
They noticed a gap in the food industry for healthy, quick meals.
to gap
01

make an opening or gap in

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