gallop

verb

gal·lop | \ ˈga-ləp

galloped; galloping; gallops

Definition of gallop

(Entry 1 of 2)

intransitive verb

1 : to progress or ride at a gallop

2 : to run fast

transitive verb

1 : to cause to gallop

2 : to transport at a gallop

gallop

noun

Definition of gallop (Entry 2 of 2)

1 : a bounding gait of a quadruped specifically : a fast natural usually 4-beat gait of the horse — compare canter entry 3, run

2 : a ride or run at a gallop

3 : a stretch of land suitable for galloping horses

4 : a rapid or hasty progression or pace

Other Words from gallop Synonyms Example Sentences Learn More about gallop

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Synonyms for gallop

Synonyms: Verb

dash, jog, run, scamper, sprint, trip, trot

Examples of gallop in a Sentence

Verb

The horse galloped toward us. He mounted his horse and galloped off to sound the alarm. She galloped her horse toward us. I grabbed my books and galloped out the door. The program gallops through early American history.

Noun

The horse was at full gallop. He mounted his horse and took off at a gallop. We went for a gallop through the countryside.

Recent Examples on the Web: Verb

Jayden scored South’s second touchdown of the game by returning a punt 55 yards down the right sideline, breaking a couple of tackles before galloping across the goal line. — Author: Josh Reed, Anchorage Daily News, "Heartwell-McKoy brothers propel South to runaway victory over Dimond," 8 Sep. 2019 Kipling had fallen in love with the United States through its literature, from Twain to Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, whose galloping meter and narrative flow would heavily influence Kipling’s own ballads. — Maya Jasanoff, The New Republic, "Rudyard Kipling, American Imperialist," 22 Aug. 2019 This filly made a comfortable early lead after breaking OK in the 12.5 second drill and galloped out with good energy while defeating her workmate by more than two lengths. — Los Angeles Times, "Racing! Santa Anita downhill course to stay closed," 9 Aug. 2019 Her trainer Matt Fales is hitting at 23% win clip this season and this filly galloped out with big strides in 12.4 gate drill on July 2 after lugging in solidly early when working on the inside of a rival who went 12.6. — John Cherwa, latimes.com, "Racing! Congrats to Santa Anita for safe workouts," 12 July 2019 The ponies took to the seawater as one, a mass of 150 adult animals, plus babies, who streamed out across the channel and churned the water white with more than 600 hooves galloping beneath the waves. — Sarah Maslin Nir, New York Times, "Following in the Wake of a Storybook Pony," 8 July 2019 But with the current pace of wildfires and deforestation, the world is rapidly galloping in the wrong direction. — Umair Irfan, Vox, "Wildfires are burning around the world. The most alarming is in the Amazon rainforest.," 20 Aug. 2019 Between 2010 and 2014 growth was galloping along at 6-8% a year and was forecast to go into double digits. — The Economist, "Liberia’s economic crisis and corruption could lead to violence," 8 Aug. 2019 But its water supply isn’t keeping pace with galloping demand — and its penchant for backyard swimming pools doesn’t help. — Somini Sengupta, BostonGlobe.com, "A quarter of world’s population faces extreme stress as water supplies ebb, study says," 6 Aug. 2019

Recent Examples on the Web: Noun

Despite being steeped in history, the Curragh Racecourse and surrounding gallops have undergone development in recent years. — Ben Church And Aly Vance, CNN, "Why this ancient land is the spiritual home of Irish horse racing," 13 Sep. 2019 Ran a closing second last out at five furlongs on turf to miss by only ¾ of a length and passed the winner on the gallop out. — John Cherwa, latimes.com, "Racing! Really good stakes at Los Al today," 6 July 2019 His signature moment: a 60-yard gallop in an upset win over Texas A&M which made him the NCAA’s all-time career rushing leader. — Scooby Axson, SI.com, "The Greatest Individual Seasons in College Football History," 12 Aug. 2019 Because the words are the same as before, the passage gets taken in faster, in a gallop of fear and flight. — The New Yorker, "Toni Morrison, Remembered By Writers," 10 Aug. 2019 The remaining gaits are the walk and gallop and are used to study a horse’s motion, physics, and style. — Megan Woodward, baltimoresun.com/maryland/carroll, "Talbot Run’s summer camp helps local riders ‘form a connection’ with horses," 1 Aug. 2019 Burgess’ one-trick pony gallops haltingly, and a modest staging by Dark & Stormy Productions does little to bring it winningly across the wire. — Dominic P. Papatola, Twin Cities, "Review: Dark & Stormy’s ‘Dry Powder’ is a one-trick pony that gallops haltingly," 7 June 2019 The only thing that threatened him on Tuesday was a couple of loose horses on the track during a morning gallop, but War of Will didn't seem to notice. — Tom Canavan, Houston Chronicle, "Tacitus favored in Belmont over Preakness winner Will of War," 4 June 2019 Preakness winner War of Will had an eventful gallop Tuesday in advance of the Belmont Stakes. — Gentry Estes, The Courier-Journal, "Morning Coffee: Picks for the NCAA Super Regionals, including Louisville baseball vs. ECU," 3 June 2019

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

History and Etymology for gallop

Verb

Middle English galopen, walopen, borrowed from Anglo-French galoper, gualoper (Picard dialect waloper), perhaps going back to Old Low Franconian *wala hlaupan, literally "to run well," from *wala "well, with good appearance or effect" (going back to Germanic *welō) + *hlaupan "to run," going back to Germanic *hlaup-a- — more at well entry 3, leap entry 1

Note: An alternative explanation sees the Old French noun as primary, and derived from Old Low Franconian *walhlaup-, from *wal- "battlefield" and *hlaup-, a nominal derivative of *hlaupan (hence alluding to a warriorʼs manner of riding on the battlefield). Though the meaning of the first noun is reflected in Old High German wal "battlefield," the general meaning of the Germanic etymon is "the slain, the dead in battle" (see valhalla).

Noun

borrowed from Middle French & Anglo-French galop, noun derivative of galoper "to gallop entry 1"; replacing Middle English walop, borrowed from Anglo-French walop, galop

Note: Alternatively, the noun could be original, and the verb a derivative of the noun. See note at gallop entry 1.

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