Gaped

Gaped is the past tense and past participle of the verb gape. It describes the action of opening wide or becoming open, and it can also refer to the act of staring with one’s mouth open in surprise, astonishment, or curiosity.

As an intransitive verb, gape means to become wide or to open suddenly: for example, “The cave gaped before them,” or “Her mouth gaped in disbelief.” The subject is the thing that opens or appears wide.

In its phrasal form, gape at, the verb takes a direct object and describes staring openly: “The spectators gaped at the magician’s tricks.” This sense emphasizes astonishment or curiosity rather than literal widening.

The word appears in Middle English, with uncertain exact origins, but it is generally considered an old and onomatopoeic term related to the idea of a gap or opening.

Gaped is sometimes contrasted with gaping, which, while derived from the same verb, is more commonly used as the present participle or adjective (as in “a gaping wound”).

Related forms include gape (present), gapes (third-person singular), gaping (present participle or adjective), and gaper (one who gapes).