In the London underground there is a warning to "mind the gap" when boarding the train.
Source: tatoeba (29280)
Gap
/ɡæp/
Synonyms for "gap" (341 found)
Ranked by relevance and common usage.
Closest matches (69)
Noun(27 words)
Verb(3 words)
Adjective(2 words)
blank spaceclear absence
Strong matches (102)
Verb(3 words)
create spacegerman brechengive space
Noun(41 words)
crevassescrevicesdefilesdetachdeviancediastasisdiastemadiffdiffer greatlydifferencedifference indifference in degreedifferencesdifferentialdisconnectdisconnectionsdisconnectsdiscontinuity on the intervaldiscrepanciesdiscrepancy preposition
Adjective(1 words)
empty void
Related words (170)
Noun(74 words)
hollownessinequalityinteriminterruptioninterspaceintersticesintervalintervalslacunaelacunaslagunalapselapseslayoverslevel mismatchline disconnectionloopholeloopholesmarkedly differentmiss
Show 54 more words
more distance forcemore openmore voidmysteryneglectnorwegian åpenomitomit analysisopeningsorificespartportuguese entrepuncturesravinesremotenessriftsrimaromanian întresaddlebackschismsseparateseparate from othersseparationsshortcomingshortcomingsshortfallssignify a differenceslitsslotsspace the assignmentsspace the chairsspace the photosspace the shelvesspace the testsspace the wordsspansplitsplit opensplittingspreadspreedtear openthieuunfilled areavacanciesvacancyvoid a checkvoid a contractvoid a formvoid spacewindowword spaceyawningyawns
inciseincisioninconsistencyinletinteriminterludeintermissioninterruptioninterspaceintervalintervalejointjumpklooflacklacunalapselaying openleakletup
Show 63 more words
lulllunar rillmissing linkmoatneednotchnullahomissionopenopeningopening uporificeoscitateoutageoutletpasspassagepassagewaypauseporeravinerecessrentrespiterestriftrimeripriverupturescalescissureseamseparationshortageskipslashsliceslitslotspacesplintersplitstomastopstrathsuspensiontearthrowing opentrenchtroughullageuncorkingunstoppingvacancyvalevalleyvoidwadiwaitwantwantageyawn
Verb(2 words)
leave empty spacemake a difference
Adjective(5 words)
long intervalpropagating tearthin marginunfilled spacevast void
Determiner(6 words)
no meetingno policyno processno spanthe distancethe void
Choosing the right synonym
- Closest matches in this entry: opening, hiatus, pause, space, interstice.
- Sentence evidence is available for gap, so synonym choice can be checked against real usage rather than a flat word list.
- Ranking signals come from wiktionary, wordnet, opengloss, derived_reverse, and related lexical sources.
Synonym selection checklist
- Match the part of speech before comparing meanings.
- Check whether the synonym changes intensity, formality, or emotional tone.
- Read the replacement inside the full sentence, not just beside "gap".
- Prefer the clearest word over the most unusual word when writing for speed or comprehension.
When not to replace "gap"
Keep "gap" when the sentence already sounds natural, when a synonym would add unintended emphasis, or when readers need the most familiar wording. A synonym should clarify or sharpen the message, not simply make the sentence look more varied.
If two options seem close, choose the one that best matches the audience and purpose of the sentence.
Replacement workflow
1. Preserve meaning
Choose a synonym only if it keeps the core idea of "gap" intact in the sentence you are editing.
2. Tune tone
Check whether the replacement sounds more formal, casual, emotional, technical, or forceful than the original word.
3. Re-read context
Read the full sentence after the swap. Keep the synonym only when the sentence becomes clearer or more precise.
Review note: Synonym lists are ranked with lexical data and reviewed for practical writing value. Use the comparison notes, sentence evidence, and source labels together; a high-ranking synonym can still be wrong when the audience, register, or grammar changes.
Final fit check
After choosing a replacement for "gap", read the sentence once for meaning and once for rhythm. The best synonym should feel natural in the full sentence, not only accurate in a word list.
If the synonym makes the sentence slower, vaguer, or more dramatic than intended, keep "gap" or choose a simpler alternative from the closest-match group.
Related word relations
OpenGloss and ConceptNet supply richer edges like generalizations, collocations, and derivations.
More general
19 entriesShowing 16 of 19 words.
More specific
14 entriesCollocations
8 entriesachievement gapdata gapfunding gapgap analysisgap yeargeneration gapincome gapknowledge gap
Inflections
3 entriesDerivations
5 entriesSample sentences
34 total sentences available.
The cat went through a gap in the fence.
Source: tatoeba (35812)
There is a wide gap in the opinions between the two students.
Source: tatoeba (72824)
There was a great gap between the views of the two.
Source: tatoeba (72842)
Showing 4 of 34 available sentences.
Common questions
What are the closest synonyms for "gap"?
Closest matches include opening, hiatus, pause, space, interstice.
How should I check whether a synonym fits "gap"?
Compare the replacement against real sentence context. This entry includes sample sentences so you can check tone, grammar, and meaning before swapping words.