gobble

1 of 2

verb (1)

gob·​ble ˈgä-bəl 

gobbled; gobbling ˈgä-b(ə-)liŋ 

transitive verb

1

: to swallow or eat greedily

2

: to take eagerly : grab

—usually used with up

3

: to read rapidly or greedily

—usually used with up

gobble

2 of 2

verb (2)

gobbled; gobbling ˈgä-b(ə-)liŋ 

intransitive verb

1

: to make the natural guttural noise of a male turkey

2

: to make a sound resembling the gobble of a turkey

gobble noun

Synonyms of gobble

Verb (1)

• devour
• inhale
• gulp

Examples of gobble in a Sentence

Verb (1)

gobbled the sandwiches like they hadn't eaten for days

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

For three consecutive evenings, just before dark, this bird zipped to the dining table, gobbled down a quick meal, then hurried back to its roost. — Tom Huggler, Outdoor Life, 13 Aug. 2026

Chelsea have now gobbled up 17 non-‘Big Six’ players in the past decade, something which speaks to both their rampant transfer activity and a seeming preference for young players already proven in England’s top division. — Chris Weatherspoon, New York Times, 12 Aug. 2026

But there’s something else the sector is gobbling up — space in warehouses across the state. — Zachary Hansen, AJC.com, 11 Aug. 2026

The instant Schwartzel's ball hit the pond, a fish — seemingly a largemouth bass — exploded from the water and gobbled it up like someone had just tossed a topwater lure directly onto its head. — Amber Harding Outkick, FOXNews.com, 11 Aug. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Verb (1)

probably irregular from gob entry 1

Verb (2)

imitative

First Known Use

Verb (1)

1583, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb (2)

1680, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for gobble

• bauble
• cobble
• hobble
• labile
• squabble
• wobble
• cantabile

Kids Definition

gobble

1 of 2 verb

gob·​ble ˈgäb-əl 

gobbled; gobbling -(ə-)liŋ 

1

: to swallow or eat greedily

2

: to take eagerly : grab

the small country was gobbled up by its neighbor

gobble

2 of 2 verb

: to make the sound of a male turkey

gobble noun