choke

1 of 2

verb

ˈchōk 

choked; choking

transitive verb

1

: to check or block normal breathing of by compressing or obstructing the trachea or by poisoning or adulterating available air

The unwary guard was choked to death by a prisoner.

2

a

: to check or hinder the growth, development, or activity of

The flowers were choked by the weeds.

b

: to obstruct by filling up or clogging

Leaves choked the drain.

c

: to fill completely : jam

roads choked with traffic

3

: to enrich the fuel mixture of (a motor) by partially shutting off the air intake of the carburetor

4

: to grip (something, such as a baseball bat) some distance from the end of the handle

—usually used with up

The batter choked up the bat and cut down his swing.

intransitive verb

1

: to become choked in breathing

He choked on a bone.

2

a

: to become obstructed or checked

b

: to become or feel constricted (see constrict sense 1) in the throat (as from strong emotion)

—usually used with up

choked up and couldn't finish the speech

3

: to shorten one's grip especially on the handle of a bat

—usually used with up

4

: to lose one's composure and fail to perform effectively in a critical situation

had a chance to win the game but he choked

choke

2 of 2

noun

1

[by folk etymology from artichoke] : the filamentous inedible center of an artichoke flower head

broadly : an artichoke flower head

2

: something that obstructs passage or flow: such as

a

: a valve for choking (see choke entry 1 sense 3) a gasoline engine

b

: a constriction in an outlet (as of an oil well) that restricts flow

c

: reactor sense 2

d

: a constriction (such as a narrowing of the barrel or an attachment) at the muzzle (see muzzle entry 1 sense 3) of a shotgun that serves to limit the spread of shot

3

: the act of choking

A few chokes dislodged the food in her throat.

Synonyms

Verb

• garrote
• garotte
• strangle
• suffocate
• throttle

Examples of choke in a Sentence

Verb

Chew your food well so you don't choke.

We were choking on fumes.

The thick smoke was choking me.

The flowers were choked by the weeds.

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

Various items were pulled from shelves back in March, ranging from fears that teething sticks could be a choking hazard to concerns about the particular batteries in a microphone potentially overheating and igniting. —Chloe Mayer, MSNBC Newsweek, 10 June 2025

On Monday, Jane gave harrowing testimony about a night in June 2024 when Combs allegedly choked, punched and kicked her in a rage. —Nancy Dillon, Rolling Stone, 10 June 2025

Noun

The 32-year-old put his opponent, Billy Ray Goff, to sleep with a nasty choke in the first round. —Trent Reinsmith, Forbes.com, 31 May 2025

The Knicks blew a 17-point lead in Game 1, leading Haliburton to evoke Reggie Miller’s infamous choke gesture in the Garden. —Dan Santaromita, New York Times, 29 May 2025

Word History

Etymology

Verb and Noun

Middle English, alteration of achoken, from Old English ācēocian, from ā-, perfective prefix + cēoce, cēace jaw, cheek — more at abide, cheek

First Known Use

Verb

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

Noun

1736, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing choke

• choke back
• choke chain
• choke coil
• choke down
• choke hold
• choke off
• choke out
• choke point
• choke up

Rhymes for choke

• bloke
• boeck
• broke
• cloak
• cloke
• croak
• folk
• hoke
• joke
• moke
• oak
• poke

Kids Definition

choke

1 of 2 verb

ˈchōk 

choked; choking

1

: to keep from breathing in a normal way by cutting off the supply of air

choked by smoke

2

: to have the windpipe blocked entirely or partly

choke on a bone

3

: to slow or prevent the growth or action of

choke back tears

4

: to block by clogging

leaves choked the drain

5

: to decrease or shut off the air intake of a carburetor to make the fuel mixture richer

6

: to grip (as a baseball bat) some distance from the end of the handle

—usually used with up

choke

2 of 2 noun

1

: the act of choking

2

: a portion of a shotgun bore that narrows toward the muzzle

also : a device attached to the muzzle that narrows the bore

3

: a device for choking a gasoline engine

Medical Definition

choke

1 of 2 verb

ˈchōk 

choked; choking

transitive verb

: to keep from breathing in a normal way by compressing or obstructing the trachea or by poisoning or adulterating available air

intransitive verb

: to have the trachea blocked entirely or partly

choke

2 of 2 noun

1

: the act of choking

2

chokes plural : pulmonary manifestations of decompression sickness including shortness of breath, chest pain, and cough

—used with the