gel

1 of 2

noun

ˈjel 

plural gels

1

: a colloid in a more solid form than a sol

broadly : jelly sense 2

2

: a thin colored transparent sheet used over a stage light to color it

3

: a gelatinous preparation: such as

a

: hair gel

b

: hand gel

gel

2 of 2

verb

gelled; gelling

intransitive verb

1

: to change into or take on the form of a gel : set

2

: jell sense 1

transitive verb

: to style with hair gel

gelled his hair back

gelable

ˈje-lə-bəl 

adjective

Synonyms of gel

Verb

• freeze
• stiffen
• jelly
• jell
• coagulate
• gelatinize
• clump
• congeal
• clot

Examples of gel in a Sentence

Verb

The mixture will gel as it cools.

Our plans are finally starting to gel.

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

And unlike brow gels that wash off at the end of the day, these formulas stain the hairs and, in some cases, the skin beneath them for results that can last anywhere from a few days to several weeks. — Jenny Berg, Vogue, 9 July 2026

The bottle listed the active ingredient as diphenhydramine — which is more commonly known as Benadryl — and had only three blue gel capsules left inside, the warrants said. — Justin Muszynski, Hartford Courant, 8 July 2026

Verb

Its remaining five songs seem to appear at random, never gelling into a cohesive force or threading a narrative. — Dash Lewis, Pitchfork, 6 July 2026

At halftime, Irankunda and Metcalfe came on as substitutes, and the team started to gel and to threaten. — Naaman Zhou, New Yorker, 1 July 2026

Word History

Etymology

Noun

gelatin

First Known Use

Noun

1899, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

1917, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing gel

• gel electrophoresis
• gel ice
• gel permeation chromatography
• hair gel
• hand gel
• shower gel
• silica gel

Rhymes for gel

• bel
• belle
• cel
• cell
• dell
• dwell
• el
• ell
• fel
• fell
• gell
• jell

Kids Definition

gel

1 of 2 noun

ˈjel 

: a solid jellylike colloid (as gelatin dessert)

gel

2 of 2 verb

gelled; gelling

: to change into or take on the form of a gel

Medical Definition

gel

1 of 2 noun

ˈjel 

: a colloid in a more solid form than a sol

gel

2 of 2 intransitive verb

gelled; gelling

: to change into or take on the form of a gel

gelable

ˈjel-ə-bəl 

adjective