gate
gate
Pronunciation
The IPA phonetic spelling for "gate" is /ɡeɪt/.
gate: /ɡeɪt/
Word Form Variations
Noun: gate (singular), gates (plural)
Verb: gate (base form), gates (third person singular present), gated (past tense, past participle), gating (present participle)
Adjective: gated (as in "gated community"), gateless
Adverb: (No direct adverb form)
Definitions, Synonyms and Antonyms
Noun
Gate
A movable barrier in a fence or wall for opening or closing an entrance.
Synonyms: doorway, entrance, portal, access point, barrier (when closed)
Antonyms: wall (when fixed), fence (when continuous), exit (when leaving)
A point of entry or exit, especially at an airport.
Synonyms: terminal, boarding area, doorway, portal
Antonyms: (no direct antonyms; refers to a specific entry/exit point)
The number of people paying to attend a sporting event or concert.
Synonyms: attendance, crowd, audience, turnout, box office
Antonyms: (no direct antonyms; refers to a count)
A control mechanism or device that opens and closes a passage, often in electronics or plumbing.
Synonyms: valve, switch, control, barrier (in a system)
Antonyms: (no direct antonyms; refers to a functional component)
Verb
Gate
To control or restrict access to (an area or resource).
Synonyms: restrict, limit, control, block, bar, cordon off
Antonyms: open, allow, permit, unblock
(Informal, chiefly British) To punish a student by confining them to college premises.
Synonyms: confine, restrict, detain
Antonyms: release, allow out
Adjective
Gated
Having a gate or gates, often implying restricted access or exclusivity.
Synonyms: enclosed, restricted, walled, exclusive, private
Antonyms: open, public, unrestricted, ungated
Gateless
Without a gate; open or unrestricted.
Synonyms: open, unrestricted, unhindered, unbounded
Antonyms: gated, enclosed, restricted
Examples of Use
Books
Non-fiction (Travel Guides): Travel guides often list airport "gates" for departures or describe historical city "gates." "Proceed to Gate 7 for your flight to London" (Lonely Planet, February 2025).
Fiction: Characters might enter or exit a garden through a wooden "gate," or a suspenseful scene might involve trying to force open a locked "gate." "She pushed open the rusty iron gate."
Engineering/Science Textbooks: These might discuss "logic gates" in electronics or the operation of flood "gates" in hydraulic systems.
Newspapers
News Articles: Journalists report on security at airport "gates," the construction of new border "gates," or controversies involving access control. A headline might read, "Protesters Block Embassy Gate" (The Daily Standard, June 2025).
Sports Sections: Reports on major sporting events might mention the "turnstile gate" revenue or the crowd size. "The stadium recorded a record gate for the championship match."
Local News: Stories might cover a new community with a "gated entrance" or a local park needing a new gate.
Online Publications
Travel Websites: Airline websites and flight trackers display "gate information" for flights. "Your flight is now boarding at Gate B23."
Home Improvement Blogs: Many DIY blogs offer tutorials on building or repairing garden "gates." "How to install a new garden gate yourself."
E-commerce: Retailers sell various types of "gates" for driveways, gardens, or child safety.
News Sites: Online news might report on scandals or controversies using the suffix "-gate" (e.g., "Watergate," "Bridgegate") to imply scandal.
Various Entertainment Mediums and Platforms
Movies/TV Shows: Characters might famously pass through an airport "gate" for a dramatic departure, or scenes might take place at the entrance of a grand estate with large gates. "He raced to the gate, hoping to catch her before she left."
Video Games: Many games feature literal "gates" that open or close as players progress, or require players to open "gates" to new areas. Some puzzle games are built around operating complex gate mechanisms.
Music: Song lyrics sometimes use "gate" metaphorically for entrances or opportunities. "Open the gate to my heart."
Sports Broadcasts: Commentators in horse racing might mention the horses lining up at the starting "gate."
Theme Parks: Visitors pass through entrance "gates" to access the park.
General Public Discourse
Conversations: In daily speech, people commonly say, "Don't forget to close the gate," or "Meet me at Gate A12." "He's always trying to jump the gate."
Travel: Travelers discuss which gate their flight departs from or arrives at.
Homeownership: Discussions among homeowners about installing a new driveway gate or repairing a broken garden gate.
Security: Conversations about restricting access often involve securing points of entry like gates.
Informal/Slang: "That concert was a real gate-crasher event." (Meaning many people tried to get in without paying).
10 Quotes Using Gate
"Enter through the narrow gate." (Matthew 7:13, NIV)
"Every significant challenge can be a hidden gate to a new opportunity."
"The mind, when truly open, is an expansive gate to infinite possibilities."
"Sometimes, profound wisdom lies in knowing precisely when to close a gate."
"He who guards the gate meticulously guards the very essence of the city."
"A single, deliberate decision can be the gateway to a truly profound journey."
"The hardest battles are often fought at the gate of one's own deepest doubts."
"Behind every great innovation lies an open gate to boundless human imagination."
"The path to self-discovery is a personal gate that only you can unlock."
"Silence, at crucial times, serves as a wise gate for unspoken words and reflections."
Etymology
The word "gate" comes from the Old English word "gæt" or "geat," which meant "an opening," "a passage," or "a door." It has roots in Germanic languages, all related to the idea of an opening or a way through.
The first known use of "gate" in English, with the meaning of "a movable barrier in a wall or fence," dates back to before the 9th century. It appeared in texts referring to an actual opening that could be closed off, and this core meaning has remained consistent throughout its history, also expanding to include metaphorical entrances or control points.
Phrases + Idioms Containing Gate
At the gate: At the entrance; also, at the beginning of a process. "The guests gathered at the gate." "The project is still at the gate of its development."
Gate-crasher: A person who attends an event without an invitation or ticket. "Security caught a few gate-crashers trying to sneak in."
Gate of heaven/hell: Metaphorical entrances to the afterlife. "He believed the old ruins were a gate of hell."
Gatekeeper: A person or thing that controls access to something. "The editor acts as the gatekeeper for new submissions."
Golden Gate: A famous strait in California (Golden Gate Bridge). "We drove across the Golden Gate Bridge."
Hit the gate: (Informal, racing) To start quickly from the starting gate. "The horse hit the gate perfectly and took an early lead."
Open the floodgates: To allow something (often something undesirable) to be released in large quantities. "The new policy could open the floodgates for lawsuits."
Straight out of the gate: Immediately; right from the start. "The new product was a success straight out of the gate."
Tend the gate: To manage access or supervise an entrance. "It's his job to tend the gate at the private estate."
Watergate: A famous political scandal in the US; used as a suffix (-gate) for other scandals. "The new corruption scandal is being called 'Farmgate,' reminiscent of Watergate."
Vocabulary-Based Stories from SEA
Source Information
Definition of gate from The Academic Glossary at Self Exploration Academy, a Urikville Press Publication. © All rights reserved.
