gasp

1 of 2

verb

ˈgasp 

gasped; gasping; gasps

intransitive verb

1

: to catch the breath convulsively and audibly (as with shock)

2

: to breathe laboriously

transitive verb

: to utter in a gasping manner

gasp

2 of 2

noun

plural gasps

: an act of gasping : a sudden loud intake of breath with one's mouth because of surprise, shock, pain, etc.

He let out an audible gasp at the sight of the snake.

a gasp of surprise

His eyes looked wild and strange from the fever; he trembled continuously, and each breath he took sounded like a gasp for life.

—Robert C. O'Brien

In the next hour Lemieux drew gasps from the crowd half a dozen more times …

—E. M. Swift

Synonyms of gasp

Verb

• pant
• heave
• hyperventilate

Examples of gasp in a Sentence

Verb

Mom gasped in surprise at the sight of my sister's new haircut.

He gasped as he stepped into the icy water.

a dying man gasping for breath

She was gasping for air.

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

During the film, audience members both laughed and gasped in horror as the events of OpenAI’s founding and 2023 unraveling were brought to screen. — Alex Ritman, Variety, 12 Oct. 2026

Judy lit his cigarette and sucked on it as if gasping for air. — Ben Taub, New Yorker, 12 Oct. 2026

Noun

But as Madsen received the snap, a quick gasp went around the stadium as Madsen appeared to fumble the ball behind him. — Shaun Goodwin, Idaho Statesman, 11 Oct. 2026

Evans would have one last gasp but was way too far out to try to grab the briefcase. — Ryan Gaydos Outkick, FOXNews.com, 11 Oct. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Verb

Middle English; akin to Old Norse geispa to yawn

First Known Use

Verb

14th century, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1

Noun

circa 1529, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing gasp

• last-gasp
• last-gasp goal

Rhymes for gasp

• asp
• clasp
• grasp
• rasp

Kids Definition

gasp

verb

ˈgasp 

1

: to draw in a breath sharply (as with shock)

2

: to breathe with difficulty : pant

3

: to utter with quick difficult breaths

gasp noun