gap

A space or period of time between two things.

• Leave a gap between the chairs.
• There was a long gap between her visits.
• Mind the gap beside the train.

How to use it: gap between A and B (There is a small gap between the wall and the desk.)

Similar words: space, interval

Common phrases: gap between something, a small gap, a long gap

A difference between people or groups in things such as wealth, ability, or achievement.

• The income gap is growing.
• Education can narrow the gap between rich and poor.
• Their victory closed the gap between the two teams.

How to use it: gap between A and B (The gap between their wages has widened.)

Similar words: difference, disparity

Common phrases: income gap, generation gap, gap between groups

A part that is missing from information, knowledge, or a series of events.

• There are gaps in the records.
• This book fills a gap in my knowledge.
• Can you explain the gap in your work history?

How to use it: gap in something (The report identified gaps in our understanding.)

Similar words: omission, hole

Common phrases: gap in something, fill a gap, knowledge gap

An opening where something has broken or its parts have moved apart.

• The storm left a gap in the fence.
• He repaired the gap with new boards.
• A sheep escaped through a gap in the hedge.

How to use it: gap in something (Someone had made a gap in the wall.)

Similar words: opening, hole

Common phrases: gap in something, a wide gap, make a gap

An open space through which someone or something can pass.

• We squeezed through a narrow gap.
• She waited for a gap in the traffic.
• A gap between the buildings led to the square.

How to use it: gap in/between something (He found a gap between the parked cars.)

Similar words: opening, passage

Common phrases: through a gap, gap in traffic, a narrow gap

To check the distance between parts, especially the electrodes of a spark plug.

• The mechanic will gap each plug.
• I gapped the spark plugs using a gauge.
• Did you gap all the plugs before fitting them?

Common phrases: gap spark plugs, gap a plug, gap each plug

For an electric train, to lose power because its pickups cannot reach a powered section.

• The train gapped and stopped.
• A short train may gap at this junction.
• The driver accidentally gapped the train between powered sections.

How to use it: gap at something (The train gapped at the junction.)

Common phrases: gap the train, gap at junctions