Flush vs. Gap — What's the Difference?
By Maham Liaqat & Urooj Arif — Updated on May 7, 2024
Flush means surfaces are aligned at the same level, whereas a gap is a space or opening between two surfaces. They contrast in how objects meet or separate.
Difference Between Flush and Gap
Table of Contents
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Key Differences
Flush refers to surfaces being even or level, giving a seamless appearance. In carpentry or construction, two pieces that are flush create a clean look without any noticeable edges. Gaps, on the other hand, indicate a visible space or opening between surfaces, showing where they don't meet completely. A gap can be intentional for ventilation or design or unintentional due to improper fitting.
A flush fit is often sought in construction or cabinetry for a polished, professional finish. It implies precision and careful alignment. Gaps are considered undesirable in these cases, suggesting poor craftsmanship or the need for adjustments.
In electrical installations, a flush switch is mounted so that its faceplate is even with the wall surface, blending with the surroundings. A gap around a switch may lead to dust accumulation and appear unkempt.
Flush is also used metaphorically to indicate being well-aligned or even in situations, while a gap metaphorically implies a noticeable disparity, like a gap in knowledge or skills.
Comparison Chart
Definition
Surfaces aligned evenly at the same level
Space or opening between surfaces
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Appearance
Seamless, polished look
Noticeable space
Applications
Cabinetry, construction, electrical work
Ventilation, design, improper fitting
Symbolism
Precision, seamlessness
Disparity, inconsistency
Installation
Requires careful alignment
Indicates a mismatch or necessary adjustment
Compare with Definitions
Flush
Surfaces perfectly aligned.
The kitchen cabinets were flush with the wall.
Gap
A break or opening between surfaces.
There was a small gap between the door and the frame.
Flush
Sufficient or abundant.
She felt flush with success after her promotion.
Gap
Disparity between two things.
The skills gap was evident during the training session.
Flush
Mounted or fitting evenly.
The electrical socket was flush with the wall.
Gap
Time or space separating events or elements.
The job switch left a gap in her employment history.
Flush
Reddened appearance, often due to emotion.
His cheeks were flushed after jogging.
Gap
Unfilled portion of a sequence.
The puzzle has a gap where one piece is missing.
Flush
Removing waste by flushing.
He pressed the lever to flush the toilet.
Gap
A natural indentation in geography.
They hiked through the gap in the mountains.
Flush
(of a person's skin, face, etc.) become red and hot, typically as the result of illness or strong emotion
Rachel flushed angrily
Gap
An opening in a solid structure or surface; a cleft or breach
Wriggled through a gap in the fence.
A large gap in the wall where the artillery shell had exploded.
Flush
Cleanse (something, especially a toilet) by causing large quantities of water to pass through it
The nurse flushed out the catheter
She flushed the loo
Gap
A break in a line of defense.
Flush
Drive (a bird, especially a game bird, or an animal) from its cover
The grouse were flushed from the woods
Gap
An opening through mountains; a pass.
Flush
(of a plant) send out fresh shoots
The plant had started to flush by late March
Gap
A space between objects or points; an aperture
A gap between his front teeth.
Flush
Fill in (a joint) level with a surface.
Gap
An interruption of continuity
A nine-minute gap in the recorded conversation.
Needed to fill in the gaps in her knowledge.
Flush
A reddening of the face, skin, etc., typically caused by illness or strong emotion
A flush of embarrassment rose to her cheeks
Gap
A conspicuous difference or imbalance; a disparity
A gap between revenue and spending.
The widening gap between rich and poor.
Flush
A sudden rush of intense emotion
I was carried away in a flush of enthusiasm
Gap
A problematic situation resulting from such a disparity
The budget gap.
The technology gap.
Flush
An act of cleansing something, especially a toilet, with a sudden flow of water
An old-fashioned toilet uses six or seven gallons a flush
Gap
A spark gap.
Flush
The action of driving an animal or game bird from its cover
Labradors retrieve the birds after the flush
Gap
To make an opening or openings in
A wall that was gapped.
Flush
(in poker or brag) a hand of cards all of the same suit.
Gap
To make or adjust a space between (objects or points) or in (a device)
Gap boards on a deck.
Gap a spark plug.
Flush
A piece of wet ground over which water flows without being confined to a definite channel.
Gap
To be or become open
Her coat gapped open.
Flush
Completely level or even with another surface
The gates are flush with the adjoining fencing
Gap
An opening in anything made by breaking or parting.
He made a gap in the fence by kicking at a weak spot.
Flush
Having plenty of something, especially money
The banks are flush with funds
Gap
An opening allowing passage or entrance.
We can slip through that gap between the buildings.
Flush
So as to be level or even
The screw must fit flush with the surface
Gap
An opening that implies a breach or defect.
There is a gap between the roof and the gutter.
Flush
So as to be directly centred; squarely
Hodson caught him flush on the jaw with a straight right
Gap
A vacant space or time.
I have a gap in my schedule next Tuesday.
Flush
To turn red, as from fever, embarrassment, or strong emotion; blush.
Gap
A hiatus, a pause in something which is otherwise continuous.
I'm taking a gap.
You must wait for a gap in the traffic before crossing the road.
Flush
To glow, especially with a reddish color
The sky flushed pink at dawn.
Gap
A vacancy, deficit, absence, or lack.
Their departure has left a gap in the workforce.
Find words to fill the gaps in an incomplete sentence.
Flush
To flow suddenly and abundantly, as from containment; flood.
Gap
A mountain or hill pass.
The exploring party went through the high gap in the mountains.
Flush
To be emptied or cleaned by a rapid flow of water, as a toilet.
Gap
(baseball) The regions between the outfielders.
Jones doubled through the gap.
Flush
To cause to redden or glow.
Gap
The shortfall between the amount the medical insurer will pay to the service provider and the scheduled fee for the item.
Flush
To excite or elate
The team was flushed with the success of victory.
Gap
(AU) (usually written as "the gap") The disparity between the indigenous and non-indigenous communities with regard to life expectancy, education, health, etc.
Flush
To clean, rinse, or empty with a rapid flow of a liquid, especially water
Flush a toilet.
Flush a wound with iodine.
Gap
(genetics) An unsequenced region in a sequence alignment.
Flush
To drive away with a rapid flow of a liquid
Flush debris from a pipe.
Gap
(transitive) To notch, as a sword or knife.
Flush
To remove or eliminate
"The weakness in demand and productivity will at least ... flush out some of the inflation premium that has been built into interest rates" (Fortune).
Gap
(transitive) To make an opening in; to breach.
Flush
To frighten (a game bird, for example) from cover.
Gap
(transitive) To check the size of a gap.
I gapped all the spark plugs in my car, but then realized I had used the wrong manual and had made them too small.
Flush
To drive or force into the open
The police fired tear gas to flush out the terrorists.
Gap
To leave suddenly.
Flush
To dart out or fly from cover.
Gap
An opening in anything made by breaking or parting; as, a gap in a fence; an opening for a passage or entrance; an opening which implies a breach or defect; a vacant space or time; a hiatus; a mountain pass.
Miseries ensued by the opening of that gap.
It would make a great gap in your own honor.
Flush
A flooding flow or rush, as of water.
Gap
The vertical distance between two superposed surfaces, esp. in a biplane.
Flush
The act of cleaning or rinsing by or as if by flushing.
Gap
To notch, as a sword or knife.
Flush
A blush or glow
"here and there a flush of red on the lip of a little cloud" (Willa Cather).
Gap
To make an opening in; to breach.
Their masses are gapp'd with our grape.
Flush
A reddening of the skin, as with fever, emotion, or exertion.
Gap
A conspicuous disparity or difference as between two figures;
Gap between income and outgo
The spread between lending and borrowing costs
Flush
A brief sensation of heat over all or part of the body.
Gap
An open or empty space in or between things;
There was a small opening between the trees
The explosion made a gap in the wall
Flush
A rush of strong feeling
A flush of pride.
Gap
A narrow opening;
He opened the window a crack
Flush
A state of great vigor or development.
Gap
A pass between mountain peaks
Flush
A hand in which all the cards are of the same suit but not in numerical sequence, ranked above a straight and below a full house in poker.
Gap
An act of delaying or interrupting the continuity;
It was presented without commercial breaks
Flush
A bird or flock of birds that has been frightened from cover.
Gap
Make an opening or gap in
Flush
So as to be even, in one plane, or aligned with a margin.
Flush
Squarely or solidly
The ball hit him flush on the face.
Flush
A group of birds that have suddenly started up from undergrowth, trees, etc.
Flush
A sudden flowing; a rush which fills or overflows, as of water for cleansing purposes.
Flush
Particularly, such a cleansing of a toilet.
Flush
(computing) The process of clearing the contents of a buffer or cache.
Flush
A suffusion of the face with blood, as from fear, shame, modesty, or intensity of feeling of any kind; a blush; a glow.
Flush
Any tinge of red colour like that produced on the cheeks by a sudden rush of blood.
The flush on the side of a peach; the flush on the clouds at sunset
Flush
A sudden flood or rush of feeling; a thrill of excitement, animation, etc.
A flush of joy
Flush
(skiing) A line of poles or obstacles that a skier must weave between.
Flush
(poker) A hand consisting of all cards with the same suit.
Flush
(transitive) To cause to take flight from concealment.
The dogs flushed the deer from the woods.
Flush
(intransitive) To take suddenly to flight, especially from cover.
A covey of quail flushed from the undergrowth.
Flush
(transitive) To cleanse by flooding with generous quantities of a fluid.
Flush the injury with plenty of water.
Flush
(transitive) Particularly, to cleanse a toilet by introducing a large amount of water.
Flush
(intransitive) To become suffused with reddish color due to embarrassment, excitement, overheating, or other systemic disturbance, to blush.
The damsel flushed at the scoundrel's suggestion.
Flush
(transitive) To cause to blush.
Flush
To cause to be full; to flood; to overflow; to overwhelm with water.
To flush the meadows
Flush
(transitive) To excite, inflame.
Flush
To be cleansed by being flooded with generous quantities of water.
There must be somebody home: I just heard the toilet flushing.
Flush
To clear (a buffer or cache) of its contents.
Flush
To write (the data) to primary storage, clearing it from the buffer or cache.
Flush to disk
Flush
To flow and spread suddenly; to rush.
Blood flushes into the face.
Flush
To show red; to shine suddenly; to glow.
Flush
(masonry) To fill in (joints); to point the level; to make them flush.
Flush
To operate a placer mine, where the continuous supply of water is insufficient, by holding back the water, and releasing it periodically in a flood.
Flush
(mining) To fill underground spaces, especially in coal mines, with material carried by water, which, after drainage, constitutes a compact mass.
Flush
To dispose or be disposed of by flushing down a toilet
Flush
Smooth, even, aligned; not sticking out.
Sand down the excess until it is flush with the surface.
Flush
Wealthy or well off.
He just got a bonus so he's flush today.
Flush
(typography) nodot=1: a body of text aligned with both its left and right margins.
Flush
Full of vigour; fresh; glowing; bright.
Flush
Affluent; abounding; well furnished or suppled; hence, liberal; prodigal.
Flush
Suddenly and completely.
I landed flush on the couch.
Flush
To flow and spread suddenly; to rush; as, blood flushes into the face.
The flushing noise of many waters.
It flushes violently out of the cock.
Flush
To become suddenly suffused, as the cheeks; to turn red; to blush.
Flush
To snow red; to shine suddenly; to glow.
In her cheek, distemper flushing glowed.
Flush
To start up suddenly; to take wing as a bird.
Flushing from one spray unto another.
Flush
To cause to be full; to flood; to overflow; to overwhelm with water; as, to flush the meadows; to flood for the purpose of cleaning; as, to flush a sewer.
Flush
To cause the blood to rush into (the face); to put to the blush, or to cause to glow with excitement.
Nor flush with shame the passing virgin's cheek.
Sudden a thought came like a full-blown rose,Flushing his brow.
Flush
To make suddenly or temporarily red or rosy, as if suffused with blood.
How faintly flushed. how phantom fair,Was Monte Rosa, hanging there!
Flush
To excite; to animate; to stir.
Such things as can only feed his pride and flush his ambition.
Flush
To cause to start, as a hunter a bird.
Flush
To cause to flow; to draw water from, or pour it over or through (a pond, meadow, sewer, etc.); to cleanse by means of a rush of water.
Flush
To operate a placer mine, where the continuous supply of water is insufficient, by holding back the water, and releasing it periodically in a flood.
Flush
A sudden flowing; a rush which fills or overflows, as of water for cleansing purposes.
In manner of a wave or flush.
Flush
A suffusion of the face with blood, as from fear, shame, modesty, or intensity of feeling of any kind; a blush; a glow.
The flush of angered shame.
Flush
Any tinge of red color like that produced on the cheeks by a sudden rush of blood; as, the flush on the side of a peach; the flush on the clouds at sunset.
Flush
A sudden flood or rush of feeling; a thrill of excitement. animation, etc.; as, a flush of joy.
Flush
A flock of birds suddenly started up or flushed.
Flush
A hand of cards, all of the same suit; - especially significant in poker, where five cards of the same suit constitute a flush, which beats a straight but is beaten by a full house or four of a kind.
Flush
Full of vigor; fresh; glowing; bright.
With all his crimes broad blown, as flush as May.
Flush
Affluent; abounding; well furnished or suppled; hence, liberal; prodigal.
Lord Strut was not very flush in ready.
Flush
Unbroken or even in surface; on a level with the adjacent surface; forming a continuous surface; as, a flush panel; a flush joint.
Flush
Consisting of cards of one suit.
Flush
So as to be level or even.
Flush
The period of greatest prosperity or productivity
Flush
A rosy color (especially in the cheeks) taken as a sign of good health
Flush
Sudden brief sensation of heat (associated with menopause and some mental disorders)
Flush
A poker hand with all 5 cards in the same suit
Flush
The swift release of a store of affective force;
They got a great bang out of it
What a boot!
He got a quick rush from injecting heroin
He does it for kicks
Flush
A sudden rapid flow (as of water);
He heard the flush of a toilet
There was a little gush of blood
She attacked him with an outpouring of words
Flush
Sudden reddening of the face (as from embarrassment or guilt or shame or modesty)
Flush
Turn red, as if in embarrassment or shame;
The girl blushed when a young man whistled as she walked by
Flush
Flow freely;
The garbage flushed down the river
Flush
Make level or straight;
Level the ground
Flush
Polish and make shiny;
Buff the wooden floors
Buff my shoes
Flush
Rinse, clean, or empty with a liquid;
Flush the wound with antibiotics
Purge the old gas tank
Flush
Irrigate with water from a sluice;
Sluice the earth
Flush
Cause to flow or flood with or as if with water;
Flush the meadows
Flush
Of a surface exactly even with an adjoining one, forming the same plane;
A door flush with the wall
The bottom of the window is flush with the floor
Flush
Having an abundant supply of money or possessions of value;
An affluent banker
A speculator flush with cash
Not merely rich but loaded
Moneyed aristocrats
Wealthy corporations
Flush
Squarely or solidly;
Hit him flush in the face
Flush
In the same plane;
Set it flush with the top of the table
Common Curiosities
How are flush and gap used metaphorically?
Flush means alignment or abundance, while a gap implies a difference or disparity.
Why are gaps sometimes necessary?
For ventilation, expansion, or aesthetic design purposes.
What is a flush-mounted fixture?
A fixture installed so that its surface aligns with the surrounding wall.
What does flush mean in construction?
It means surfaces are perfectly aligned without protrusion.
Is a flush installation always preferred over a gap?
Not always. Gaps are sometimes required for thermal expansion or ventilation.
How do carpenters achieve a flush finish?
By precise measurements, leveling, and sometimes sanding surfaces until they are even.
Why is a flush fit often preferred?
It provides a clean, polished appearance, indicating quality craftsmanship.
Can gaps be filled to appear flush?
Yes, with fillers or caulk, depending on the material and purpose.
How does flush installation affect the overall aesthetic?
A flush installation creates a seamless, polished appearance, giving a sense of precision and quality.
Is there a standard acceptable gap size in construction?
It varies based on the project, but small gaps are often acceptable due to material tolerances.
How can gaps be minimized during furniture assembly?
By following instructions closely, ensuring parts are correctly aligned, and tightening connections securely.
Can gaps compromise structural integrity?
Yes, especially if they allow water ingress or are too wide for proper support.
Why do gaps sometimes occur in tile installations?
Gaps may be needed for grout or can arise from uneven surfaces and poor measurements.
What materials are prone to gaps due to expansion and contraction?
Wood and certain plastics can expand or contract, causing gaps.
Does a flush finish impact durability?
Generally, yes, since it reduces the chances of snagging or deterioration at edges.
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Written by
Maham Liaqat
Co-written by
Urooj ArifUrooj is a skilled content writer at Ask Difference, known for her exceptional ability to simplify complex topics into engaging and informative content. With a passion for research and a flair for clear, concise writing, she consistently delivers articles that resonate with our diverse audience.
