to yawn

Examples

• All

• The fence runs straight to the edge of the ditch, an eight-foot-wide gap yawning dead ahead.

  Fiction book (1990)

• In the hall, the other doors yawned open and half open.

  Fiction book (1990)

• The pit yawns for them.

  The Body Snatcher (1945)

• As they did, I saw another doorway yawning a deeper darkness than the rest of the hall.

  Fiction book (1995)

• A pair of wide, trunklike waterspouts stood before them, and beyond yawned an expanse of azure.

  Fiction book (1992)

• The old cave at the edge of the forest yawns open, revealing its dark interior.

• As the crowd dispersed, the large stadium yawned emptily under the fading lights.

• The abandoned building yawned wide, its doors swinging open to reveal the neglected rooms inside.

Synonyms

G

to gape

vsto yawn

28 3.8

To become wide open so it is easy to see

is wide open without the extra sense of surprise

Phrasal Verbs

L

to let out a yawn

2.1

To open your mouth and breathe slowly because you feel tired or bored

Compounds

C

contagious yawn

3.7

A yawn that makes other people yawn too

M

multicolour yawn

• UK

9.9

A thing with many bright colours that looks boring and not creative

How Wide

to gape

28 3.8

to yawn

8 5.7

to gap

1 5.5

open

∞ 1.0

Surface Forms

Etymology