gulped; gulping; gulps

transitive verb

1
: to swallow hurriedly or greedily or in one swallow
2
: to keep back as if by swallowing
gulp down a sob
3
: to take in readily as if by swallowing
gulp down knowledge

intransitive verb

: to catch the breath as if in taking a long drink
gulp noun
gulper noun

Examples of gulp in a Sentence

She told him not to gulp his food. The exhausted racers lay on the ground, gulping air. The exhausted racers were gulping for air. I gulped nervously before beginning my speech. “That's a lot of money,” she gulped. He gulped back tears as he thanked the rescuers.
Recent Examples on the Web Domenica Bongiovanni One of the Jurassic Period's fiercest predators, known for ripping apart its prey before gulping it down, has arrived at The Children's Museum. The Indianapolis Star, 5 Jan. 2024 There’s little indication, for example, that Romeo is banished for killing Tybalt, or that Juliet gulps a sleeping draft. Rebecca Ritzel, Washington Post, 13 Feb. 2024 The 37-year-old stood and gulped his beer, spit it into the air, and poured the rest of it into a willing fan’s mouth. Joshua Needelman, Curbed, 1 Nov. 2023 The fantastical part is the result of a mushroom trip, during which Elliott (Stella), who’s turning 18 and is about to head off to college, gulps hallucinogenic tea with her forever friends Ro (Kerrice Brooks) and Ruthie (Maddie Ziegler). David Rooney, The Hollywood Reporter, 22 Jan. 2024 One of the Jurassic Period's fiercest predators, known for ripping apart its prey before gulping it down, has arrived at The Children's Museum. The Indianapolis Star, 5 Jan. 2024 To this day the aroma of mince pies triggers me into gulping fits of sentimental ecstasy. K.j. Yossman, Variety, 18 Dec. 2023 Josh Méndez Harper, then a postdoctoral researcher in a volcanology lab, started attending as a casual coffee drinker — the kind of person who would gulp down whatever he was handed without a second thought. Carolyn Y. Johnson, Washington Post, 6 Dec. 2023 Do not overlook any wildflower that can conquer acres of farmland or gulp down your garden in a single sitting. Steve Bender, Southern Living, 26 Sep. 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'gulp.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from a Middle Dutch or Middle Low German word akin to Dutch & Frisian gulpen to bubble forth, drink deep; akin to Old English gielpan to boast — more at yelp

First Known Use

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

Time Traveler
The first known use of gulp was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near gulp

Cite this Entry

“Gulp.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/gulp. Accessed 29 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

gulp

verb
1
: to swallow hurriedly or greedily or in one swallow
2
: to keep back as if by swallowing
gulp down a sob
3
: to catch the breath as if in taking a long drink
gulp noun
gulper noun

More from Merriam-Webster on gulp

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