gulp

verb

ˈgəlp 

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

Synonyms

• sip
• drink

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

The pressure is always on the taker, the player standing, gulping, trying desperately not to unload their lunch onto the turf, preparing to do something theoretically simple — kick the ball into the net from 12 yards with only one opponent able to stop them. —Nick Miller, New York Times, 4 Sep. 2025

Pick safe toys: Choose small, flat toys like flying discs instead of large ones that might encourage gulping water. —Lucy Notarantonio, MSNBC Newsweek, 15 July 2025

At school, nothing was more shameful to me than seeing my father drinking from the water fountain, sucking and gulping. —Ottessa Moshfegh, New Yorker, 30 June 2025

Mindful Coffee Or Tea Break Instead of gulping your drink while answering emails, try this: Hold the cup, feel its warmth, smell the aroma and enjoy the first sip. —Bronwen Sciortino, Forbes.com, 23 June 2025

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

Rhymes for gulp

• pulp

Kids Definition

gulp

verb

ˈgəlp 

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