Collocations for gap - noun
1. space between things
ADJ.
big, huge, large, wide | narrow, small | awkward
an awkward gap between the bed and the door
an awkward gap between the bed and the door
VERB + GAP
leave | fill, seal
Seal the gaps around the windows with an exterior-quality sealant.
Seal the gaps around the windows with an exterior-quality sealant.
GAP + VERB
appear, open up
He flashed his headlights and jumped lanes whenever a gap opened up.
He flashed his headlights and jumped lanes whenever a gap opened up.
PREP.
through a/the ~
A rabbit ran along the fence and darted through a gap.
A rabbit ran along the fence and darted through a gap.
~ between
Position the tiles, leaving a narrow gap between the edges.
Position the tiles, leaving a narrow gap between the edges.
~ in
A huge gap had appeared in the hedge.
A huge gap had appeared in the hedge.
2. period of time
ADJ.
awkward | long, short | time
VERB + GAP
fill
wondering how to fill an awkward gap in the conversation
wondering how to fill an awkward gap in the conversation
GAP + NOUN
year
I''m planning to travel in my gap year (= the year between school and university).
I''m planning to travel in my gap year (= the year between school and university).
PREP.
after a/the ~
She returned to teaching after a twelve-year gap.
She returned to teaching after a twelve-year gap.
~ between
a job to fill the gap between school and university
a job to fill the gap between school and university
~ in
a gap in his career
a gap in his career
3. difference
ADJ.
big, huge, large, significant, substantial, wide, yawning | unbridgeable
the unbridgeable gap between the two cultures
the unbridgeable gap between the two cultures
growing, widening | narrow | age, generation
Despite the age gap, romance blossomed.
Despite the age gap, romance blossomed.
cultural/culture | gender
the gender gap in earnings
the gender gap in earnings
credibility
Newspapers were talking of a credibility gap between what he said and what he did.
Newspapers were talking of a credibility gap between what he said and what he did.
information, knowledge, skills
the knowledge gap between doctor and patient
the knowledge gap between doctor and patient
trade
(= the gap between export and imports; used in journalism)
(= the gap between export and imports; used in journalism)
VERB + GAP
bridge
an attempt to bridge the gap between the academic world and industry
an attempt to bridge the gap between the academic world and industry
GAP + VERB
widen | narrow | separate sb/sth
He realized how narrow was the gap separating him from his pagan ancestors.
He realized how narrow was the gap separating him from his pagan ancestors.
PREP.
~ between
The gap between rich and poor widened.
The gap between rich and poor widened.
4. where sth is missing
ADJ.
big, enormous, great, huge, important, large, serious, significant, terrible, yawning
serious gaps in their knowledge
serious gaps in their knowledge
VERB + GAP
create, leave
His death left a huge gap in my life.
His death left a huge gap in my life.
identify | close, fill (in), plug
Her appointment will fill the gap created when the marketing manager left.
Her appointment will fill the gap created when the marketing manager left.
PREP.
~ in
legislation to close a gap in the law
legislation to close a gap in the law
PHRASES
a gap in the market
We think we''ve identified a gap in the market (= a business opportunity to make or sell sth that is not yet available).
We think we''ve identified a gap in the market (= a business opportunity to make or sell sth that is not yet available).