open-mouthed

open-mouthed — adjective

1. showing such strong surprise or shock that your mouth stays open

1.adjectiveC1
Definition

showing such strong surprise or shock that your mouth stays open

Example

The children stood open-mouthed as the circus elephant painted a flower.

stand open-mouthed after a surprising sight

Open-mouthed tourists watched snow fall on the beach in May.

adjective before a plural noun

Common collocations
  • open-mouthed stare
  • stand open-mouthed
  • sit open-mouthed
  • watch open-mouthed
  • turn open-mouthed
Synonyms
  • astonished

    names the feeling of surprise more than the face you make

  • agape

    is more literary and directly stresses the mouth hanging open

  • speechless

    focuses on being unable to speak, not necessarily on the mouth

  • wide-eyed

    shifts attention to the eyes and can sound less shocked

Antonyms
  • composed

    suggests calm control instead of a startled expression

  • unmoved

    suggests little or no visible reaction

  • calm

    is broader and does not suggest surprise at all

Grammar Patterns

stand open-mouthed

sit open-mouthed

an open-mouthed stare

Usage Note

Usually describes a short-lived facial expression in a sudden moment. It is common after verbs such as stand, sit, stare, or turn, and it focuses on the visible look rather than the feeling alone.

Common Mistakes

The students were open-mouthed of the trick.
The students were open-mouthed at the trick.
use 'at' for the thing that causes the reaction.
Mina is open-mouthed and easy to talk to.
Mina is approachable and easy to talk to.
open-mouthed describes a shocked expression, not a friendly character.

Synonym discussion

Sense: adjective/1

Open-mouthed is a visual word. It tells the reader what someone's face looks like at the exact moment of surprise or shock. Astonished is broader and names the feeling, so it does not always suggest any particular expression. Agape is closer in meaning, but it is more literary and often sounds more dramatic. Speechless focuses on not being able to speak, whether from surprise, fear, or strong emotion, and the mouth does not have to be open. Wide-eyed points to the eyes instead, and it can suggest wonder or innocence more than shock. You can say The children stood open-mouthed at the fireworks, but The children were astonished by the news.

astonished ↗agapespeechless ↗wide-eyed ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

  • open-mouthed look
  • open-mouthed stare
  • open-mouthed expression

Phrases

  • stand open-mouthed
  • sit open-mouthed
  • leave someone open-mouthed

Prepositions

Etymology

English

Open-mouthed was formed in English from open and mouthed. It first described the literal picture of a person with the mouth open, and from that image it came to describe the look people often have when surprise or shock is written clearly on the face.