gag

play

verb \ˈgag\

Definition of gag

gagged

;

gagging

transitive verb
1a : to restrict use of the mouth of by inserting something into it to prevent speech or outcryb : to prevent from exercising freedom of speech or expression trying to gag the press legally gagged from discussing the casec : to pry or hold open with a gag
2 : to provide or write quips or pranks for gag a show
3 : to choke or cause to retch
intransitive verb
1a : choke; also : to suffer a throat spasm that makes swallowing or breathing difficultb : retch
2 : to be unable to endure something : balk The boys gagged at all the kissing and goo-goo eyes.
3 : to make quips

gagger

noun

See gag defined for English-language learners

See gag defined for kids

Examples of gag in a Sentence

The government is trying to gag the press.
the terrible smell of rotting fish made me gag

Recent Examples of gag from the Web

A woman who was bound, gagged and held against her will at a house in Mid-City escaped to safety...

— beau evans, NOLA.com, "N.C. teen missing for over a year found in Georgia: report", 25 June 2017
Virtually every non-Democrat who is familiar with the words Nancy Pelosi is a member of the Republican base — imagine the GOP deciding in 2016 that its path back to power involved winning over voters who gag at the mention of John Boehner.

— eric levitz, Daily Intelligencer, "Nancy Pelosi Didn’t Cost Jon Ossoff the Election", 21 June 2017
The woman told deputies that Michael Gray Wilkins and Leslie Jacobs Weeks zip tied, gagged and assaulted her.

— jim ryan, OregonLive.com, "Duo arrested on suspicion of kidnapping Portland woman, holding her in motorhome", 15 June 2017
This past October, Kardashian West was alone in her No Address Hotel room during Paris Fashion week when multiple masked men broke in and bound, gagged and robbed the Keeping Up with the Kardashians star of millions of dollars worth of jewels.

— natalie stone, PEOPLE.com, "Kris Jenner Reveals Family Has ‘Enormous Amount’ of Armed Security Since Paris Robbery: ‘It Changed the Way We Live’", 12 June 2017
A bearded man sat on board, masked, handcuffed and gagged until out of shouting range of land.

— spencer s. hsu, Washington Post, "Thirteen days in the history of the accused leader of the Benghazi attacks", 9 June 2017
Sulfur-rich vapor rises out of the lake, gagging anyone unlucky enough to get a whiff and poisoning anyone unlucky enough to get too many whiffs.

— sarah zhang, The Atlantic, "The Tough Little Drone Ship That Explores Acid Lakes", 7 June 2017
In a parallel sequence, a lesbian Handmaid named Ofglen (played, silently, by the terrific Alexis Bledel) is gagged and kidnapped by the Secret Police, forced to see her lover hanged, and then given a clitoridectomy.

— emily nussbaum, The New Yorker, "A Cunning Adaptation of “The Handmaid’s Tale”", 22 May 2017
One murder in particular, that of 10-year-old Lesley Ann Downey, evoked rage and revulsion when it was discovered that the killers had made a tape-recording of her pleading for her life and photographed her naked, bound and gagged.

— alan cowell, New York Times, "Ian Brady, Unrepentant Killer of British Children, Dies at 79", 16 May 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'gag'. Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of gag

Middle English gaggen “to strangle,” of imitative origin

NEW!

First Known Use: 1509

See Words from the same year

Other Performing Arts Terms

diva, dramaturgy, loge, prestidigitation, proscenium, supernumerary, zany

gag

noun

Definition of gag

1 : something thrust into the mouth to keep it open or to prevent speech or outcry
2 : an official check or restraint on debate or free speech a gag rule
3 : a laugh-provoking remark or act
4 : prank, trick

See gag defined for English-language learners

Examples of gag in a Sentence

The movie relies on simpleminded gags for laughs.
They hid his clothes as a gag.
They tied up the hostages and put gags in their mouths.
The government is trying to put a gag on the press.

Recent Examples of gag from the Web

The setpieces are big, the action is insane, and the gags really go for it.

— joshua rivera, GQ, "The Good, The Bad, The Weird: The Western Homage You Shouldn't Miss on Netflix", 1 July 2017
Lake County Sheriff John Buncich confirmed the animals remain in the care of Lake County Animal Control and declined to comment further citing the gag order.

— carrie napoleon, Post-Tribune, "Citing conflicts, Lake County judges bow out of alleged puppy mill case", 30 June 2017
After all, Trump re-instituted the Reagan-era global gag rule during National Women’s Health Week.

— caitlin cruz, Glamour, "Whole Women’s Health v. Hellerstedt", 27 June 2017
State District Judge Wayne Salvant issued a gag order on the case.

— ryan osborne, star-telegram.com, "‘Affluenza’ mom also violated bond by having gun, prosecutors allege", 27 June 2017
Within seconds his tongue was windshield-wiping my front teeth and testing out my gag reflexes via some aggressive throat pokes.

— The Cut, "Is Sex in Silicon Valley As Bad As Sex on Silicon Valley?", 22 June 2017
The name implies a mental health bent to the jokes, but most are more relatable gags about being an anxious twentysomething woman who’s a bit of a mess.

— tess koman, Cosmopolitan, "How the 23-Year-Old Meme Queens Behind @MyTherapistSays Blew Up Instagram", 20 June 2017
The rhyming names, the matching sailor suits, the tomfoolery of mistaken identities, the two-places-at-the-same-time movie plot — genetics for gags.

— anya groner, Longreads, "Twinless in Twinsburg", 9 June 2017
Citing the gag order, Stracci and Lake County Sheriff John Buncich declined comment.

— carrie napoleon, Post-Tribune, "Crown Point man faces animal mutilation, other charges for alleged role in illegal puppy mill", 8 June 2017

Origin and Etymology of gag

derivative of ¹gag

NEW!

First Known Use: 1530

See Words from the same year

Other Performing Arts Terms

diva, dramaturgy, loge, prestidigitation, proscenium, supernumerary, zany

GAG Defined for English Language Learners

gag

play

verb

Definition of gag for English Language Learners

: to put something (such as a piece of cloth) into or over a person's mouth in order to prevent that person from speaking, calling for help, etc.
: to prevent (someone) from speaking freely or expressing opinions
: to vomit or feel as if you are about to vomit : to feel as if what is in your stomach is going to come up into your mouth

gag

noun

Definition of gag for English Language Learners

: something said or done to make people laugh
: something done as a playful trick
: something (such as a piece of cloth) that is put into or over someone's mouth in order to prevent speech

GAG Defined for Kids

gag

play

verb \ˈgag\

Definition of gag for Students

gagged

;

gagging

1 : to stop from speaking or crying out by or as if by covering or blocking the mouth
2 : to vomit or feel like vomiting The horrible smell almost made me gag.
3 : choke 2 He gagged on his hot dog.