What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
gape
Example
The child gaped in amazement at the magician's tricks. [gaped: verb]
Example
The old house had a gaping hole in the roof. [gaping: adjective]
stare
Example
She stared at her reflection in the mirror, trying to find any flaws. [stared: verb]
Example
The stranger's stare made me feel uneasy. [stare: noun]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Stare is more commonly used than gape in everyday language. Stare is versatile and covers a wide range of contexts, while gape is less common and refers to a more specific type of expression.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between gape and stare?
While gape is typically associated with a casual and informal tone, stare can be employed in various formality levels, allowing it to be used in both formal and informal contexts.
