agape

1 of 2

adjective or adverb

ə-ˈgāp 

 also  -ˈgap

1

: wide open : gaping

with mouth agape

2

: being in a state of wonder

stood agape before the gothic cathedral

agape

2 of 2

noun

aga·​pe ä-ˈgä-(ˌ)pā  ˈä-gə-ˌpā 

1

: love feast

2

: love sense 4a

Synonyms

Adjective or adverb

• agog
• anticipant
• anticipatory
• expectant

Examples of agape in a Sentence

Adjective or adverb

at the sound of the sleigh bells the children were all agape, waiting for Santa to appear

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective or adverb

Even those who, so far, only long to work with Lange stood with mouths agape. —Juan A. Ramírez, Vogue, 17 June 2024

Most of the crowd at the Dunkin’ admires from afar, mouths slightly agape, nerves too jittery to go up and say hi. —Julyssa Lopez, Rolling Stone, 13 June 2024

Its large mouth is agape, revealing dozens of tiny, sharp teeth. —Sarah Kuta, Smithsonian Magazine, 21 May 2024

The record stops spinning, and fellow Barbies and Kens stop dancing and stare with mouths agape. —Jonah Valdez, Los Angeles Times, 3 July 2023

Word History

Etymology

Adjective or adverb

a- entry 1 + gape entry 1

Noun

borrowed from Late Latin agapē, borrowed from Greek agápē "brotherly love," back-formation from agapân "to regard with affection, be fond of, be contented (with)" or agapázein "to welcome warmly," perhaps from a base *aga-pā- "lavish protection, attention or affection (on)," literally, "protect greatly," going back to Indo-European *m̥ǵh₂- "large, great" + *peh₂- "protect" — more at much entry 1, fur entry 1

First Known Use

Adjective Or Adverb

1667, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun

1536, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

agape

adjective

ə-ˈgāp,

 also  ə-ˈgap

: having the mouth open in wonder or surprise

the crowd stood agape at the sight