What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
hole
Example
The mouse crawled through the hole in the wall. [hole: noun]
Example
I accidentally poked a hole in my shirt. [hole: noun]
Example
There's a hole in the argument that needs to be addressed. [hole: noun]
gap
Example
There's a gap between the two buildings. [gap: noun]
Example
There's a gap in my memory of what happened that night. [gap: noun]
Example
There's a gap in our knowledge of how the universe works. [gap: noun]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Gap is more commonly used than hole in everyday language. Gap is versatile and covers a wide range of contexts, while hole is more specific and often used in technical or specialized fields.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between hole and gap?
Both hole and gap can be used in formal and informal contexts, but hole may be more technical or specialized in some contexts.
