open-mouthed
adjective
variants
or less commonly openmouthed
1
a
: having the mouth open
… bizarre touches such as fireplaces in the form of huge, open-mouthed, monstrous faces.—
Deborah Howard
Deborah Howard
especially
: having the mouth open in an expression of shock, surprise, etc.
The crowd stood open-mouthed with murmurs of wonder … —Gutzon Borglum
Gutzon Borglum It was an incredible display of batting which left cricket fans … open-mouthed with astonishment. —dailymail.co.uk
dailymail.co.uk … you'll find the robot working away before an audience of openmouthed viewers. —Edwards Park
Edwards Park
b
: made or done with the mouth open
an open-mouthed yawn
If any open-mouthed kissing is involved in a role, the actor must be informed of this at the audition phase.—Monty Brower
Monty Brower
c
: causing an open-mouthed expression (as of shock or surprise)
[Jennifer] Capriati stared in openmouthed wonder at the sight of so many grown-ups acting like kids.—S. L. Price
S. L. Price2
of a container
: having a wide opening : wide-mouthed
open-mouthed jars
3
: clamorous, vociferous
It is certain that the ladies of this city … are all open-mouthed against the murderers of a sovereign …—Thomas Jefferson
Thomas Jefferson… if all I have said seems to you but mere open-mouthed praise of these arts, I must say that it is not for nothing that what I have hitherto put before you has taken that form.—William Morris
William MorrisExamples of open-mouthed in a Sentence
I stood there open-mouthed, unable to believe what I was seeing.
the stunning view from the mountaintop left us open-mouthed and at a loss for words
Recent Examples on the Web
There were two moments in the second half that left everyone in the Villa Park open-mouthed.
—Simon Johnson, The Athletic, 22 Feb. 2025
As Samuel sashays toward the camera, the Old English KES text on his upper right arm and a gigantic open-mouthed snake on his left come into frame.
—Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 25 Dec. 2024
But for a few hours a day, the 4-month-old pygmy hippo springs to life, gumming on leaves, zooming around the compound and tossing her head in a silent, open-mouthed roar.
—Andrew J. Campa, Los Angeles Times, 1 Dec. 2024
Over the previous 48 hours, the Wade sculpture had been subjected to a kind of name, image and likeness debate among sports fans: namely, whether the statue’s expression of open-mouthed primacy captured Wade’s essence.
—Daniel Libit, Sportico.com, 3 Sep. 2019
But despite dolphins’ playful reputation, their facial expressions during play had never been investigated before, though studies have established that other mammals, like humans and monkeys, communicate with open-mouthed, smile-like expressions when playing.
—Issy Ronald, CNN, 4 Oct. 2024
The movie’s anonymous serial killer hides behind an oddly specific knowledge of pop culture and the infamous Ghostface mask—an eerie, bone-white, open-mouthed ghost with a freakishly extended jawline.
—Alex Vance, Parents, 20 Sep. 2024
Then there was a molten cavern with an open-mouthed oven: the furnace room, where Davis’ character, a long-suffering low-level demon, has spent centuries shoveling coal.
—Alex Bhattacharji, Rolling Stone, 4 Aug. 2024
Tkachuk happily obliged, raising the Cup and slopping its chilly contents (Bud Light and Michelob Ultra) over the railing onto open-mouthed fans below.
—Ben Crandell, Sun Sentinel, 25 June 2024
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Simon Johnson, The Athletic, 22 Feb. 2025
As Samuel sashays toward the camera, the Old English KES text on his upper right arm and a gigantic open-mouthed snake on his left come into frame.
—Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 25 Dec. 2024
But for a few hours a day, the 4-month-old pygmy hippo springs to life, gumming on leaves, zooming around the compound and tossing her head in a silent, open-mouthed roar.
—Andrew J. Campa, Los Angeles Times, 1 Dec. 2024
Over the previous 48 hours, the Wade sculpture had been subjected to a kind of name, image and likeness debate among sports fans: namely, whether the statue’s expression of open-mouthed primacy captured Wade’s essence.
—Daniel Libit, Sportico.com, 3 Sep. 2019
But despite dolphins’ playful reputation, their facial expressions during play had never been investigated before, though studies have established that other mammals, like humans and monkeys, communicate with open-mouthed, smile-like expressions when playing.
—Issy Ronald, CNN, 4 Oct. 2024
The movie’s anonymous serial killer hides behind an oddly specific knowledge of pop culture and the infamous Ghostface mask—an eerie, bone-white, open-mouthed ghost with a freakishly extended jawline.
—Alex Vance, Parents, 20 Sep. 2024
Then there was a molten cavern with an open-mouthed oven: the furnace room, where Davis’ character, a long-suffering low-level demon, has spent centuries shoveling coal.
—Alex Bhattacharji, Rolling Stone, 4 Aug. 2024
Tkachuk happily obliged, raising the Cup and slopping its chilly contents (Bud Light and Michelob Ultra) over the railing onto open-mouthed fans below.
—Ben Crandell, Sun Sentinel, 25 June 2024
Cite this Entry
“Open-mouthed.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/open-mouthed. Accessed 14 Mar. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
openmouthed
adjective
open·mouthed
ˌō-pən-ˈmau̇t͟hd 
-ˈmau̇tht
-ˈmau̇tht
1
: having the mouth wide open
2
: struck with amazement or wonder
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