gas

\ ˈgas

How to pronounce gas (audio)

\

plural gases also gasses

Definition of gas

(Entry 1 of 2)

1 : a fluid (such as air) that has neither independent shape nor volume but tends to expand indefinitely

2a : a combustible gas or gaseous mixture for fuel or lighting especially : natural gas

b : a gaseous product of digestion also : discomfort from this

c : a gas or gaseous mixture used to produce anesthesia

d : a substance that can be used to produce a poisonous, suffocating, or physically irritating atmosphere

3 : empty talk : bombast His talk about quitting his job was all gas.

4 : gasoline also : the accelerator pedal of an automotive vehicle

5 : driving force : energy I was young, and full of gas— H. L. Mencken ran out of gas in the seventh inning

6 slang : something that gives pleasure : delight the party was a gas

7 baseball, informal : fast and powerfully thrown pitches : smoke sense 8 That's Nate on the mound in the glossy photo in his dad's office, throwing gas in some Little League game.— Austin Murphy

gas

gassed; gassing

Definition of gas (Entry 2 of 2)

intransitive verb

1 : to talk idly or garrulously

2 : to give off gas (see gas entry 1 sense 1)

3 : to fill the tank (as of an automobile) with gasoline —usually used with up

transitive verb

1 : to supply with gas or especially gasoline gas up the car

2a : to treat chemically with gas

b : to poison or otherwise affect adversely with gas

3 slang : to please greatly

Synonyms More Example Sentences Learn More about gas

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Examples of gas in a Sentence

Noun Carbon monoxide is a poisonous gas. We heat our house with gas. Do you have a gas stove or an electric one? The car gets good gas mileage. The car almost ran out of gas. He was driving with one foot on the gas and one foot on the brake. Verb soldiers gassed on the battlefield We stopped to gas the car.

Recent Examples on the Web: Noun Employment in the oil and gas industry is down 26%. — Elyse Kelly, Washington Examiner, "New Mexico chamber CEO: 'We need to do things quickly' for economic recovery," 19 Jan. 2021 While the reduction has not led the Bureau of Land Management to approve oil or gas leases on lands cut from the monument, a new claim for a uranium mine was filed. — AZCentral.com, "Public lands activists hope Biden will permanently halt Grand Canyon uranium mines, restore monuments," 18 Jan. 2021 There was more oil and gas produced during his last term than there was during Trump’s term. — USA Today, "Biden’s administration could affect Oklahoma’s energy industry in surprising ways," 18 Jan. 2021 Meanwhile, investment in renewables and other clean energy technologies is taking off, threatening to eat into the market for oil and gas long-term. — John Gould, WSJ, "Oil-and-Gas Industry Faces a Slow Recovery From Pandemic Lows," 17 Jan. 2021 The opponents also say additional oil and gas wells will produce more greenhouse gases, which will exacerbate the state’s coastal land loss. — Mark Schleifstein, NOLA.com, "Here are the Trump environmental rule changes that Biden might target," 17 Jan. 2021 Putin's kleptocracy has but one viable business, oil and gas. — Star Tribune, "Readers Write: America at the transition, overpopulation," 16 Jan. 2021 New Mexico continues grappling with its identity as a Democratic state that relies on oil and gas revenue. — Mark Olalde, USA TODAY, "Climate Point: Earth is spinning faster, and a manatee holds a political message," 15 Jan. 2021 His agency claimed that CNOOC has been harassing and threatening offshore oil and gas exploration in the South China Sea. — Laura He, CNN, "Xiaomi and other Chinese companies slapped with US restrictions as Trump's term winds down," 14 Jan. 2021 Recent Examples on the Web: Verb Lane Kiffin’s group leads the SEC averaging 536 yards in this young season with quick quarterbacks and schemes that can gas a defense. — Michael Casagrande | Mcasagrande@al.com, al, "A look at Alabama’s pass rush after 2 games," 6 Oct. 2020 But when flying presents too much of a risk (and your pet may prefer to stay grounded anyway), the only option, really, is to gas up the car, requires more forethought. — Andrea Cheng, Condé Nast Traveler, "Everything You Need to Pack for Road Trips With Pets," 12 Aug. 2020 Critics have alleged that officers have been quick to indiscriminately gas largely peaceful crowds, when only a small number of individuals commit crimes such as throwing projectiles at officers and setting fires. — Katie Shepherd, Washington Post, "Another Portland protest ended with tear gas after police declared a riot," 13 Aug. 2020 This was a large contrast from recent weeks, where federal officers would gas crowds nightly. — oregonlive, "Portland’s 66th day of protests already underway with march in N. Portland," 1 Aug. 2020 There's no telling how long TJ will have this drag on for, and some players will gas out. — Sydney Bucksbaum, EW.com, "The Challenge: Total Madness recap: Where's Dee?," 18 June 2020 Montgomery:Attendants are coming out to gas up cars, clean windshields and even deliver food and drinks from inside at a dozen MAPCO stations nationwide, including one in Montgomery. — USA TODAY, "Rock Hall, Hard Rock resort, full-service gas: News from around our 50 states," 13 June 2020 The video is set to triumphant music, without including any of his threatening language or images of protesters being tear-gassed that preceded the PR stunt. — cleveland, "D.C. bishop calls Trump photo op ‘antithetical to everything we as a church stand for’ in ‘CBS This Morning’ interview," 2 June 2020 Another farmer has considered gassing his animals after loading them into a truck. — Michael Corkery, BostonGlobe.com, "Meat plant closures mean pigs are gassed or shot instead," 14 May 2020

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

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Last Updated

24 Jan 2021

Cite this Entry

“Gas.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/gas. Accessed 27 Jan. 2021.

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More Definitions for gas

gas

noun

English Language Learners Definition of gas

(Entry 1 of 2)

: a substance (such as oxygen or hydrogen) that is like air and has no fixed shape

: a gas or mixture of gases that is burned as a fuel

US : gas in your stomach and intestines that causes pain or discomfort

gas

verb

English Language Learners Definition of gas (Entry 2 of 2)

: to poison or kill (someone) with gas

US : to put gasoline in (a car, truck, etc.)

See the full definition for gas in the English Language Learners Dictionary

gas

\ ˈgas

\

plural gases

Kids Definition of gas

(Entry 1 of 2)

1 : a substance (as oxygen or hydrogen) having no fixed shape and tending to expand without limit

2 : natural gas

3 : a gas or a mixture of gases used to make a person unconscious (as for an operation)

4 : a substance that poisons the air or makes breathing difficult

6 : a gaseous product of digestion or the discomfort caused by it

gas

gassed; gassing; gasses

Kids Definition of gas (Entry 2 of 2)

1 : to poison with gas “Her boy was gassed in the trenches,” Grandma said.— Richard Peck, A Year Down Yonder

2 : to supply with gas Gas up the car.

gas

\ ˈgas

\

plural gases also gasses

Medical Definition of gas

(Entry 1 of 3)

1 : a fluid (as air) that has neither independent shape nor volume but tends to expand indefinitely

2 : a gaseous product of digestion also : discomfort from this

3 : a gas or gaseous mixture used to produce anesthesia

4 : a substance that can be used to produce a poisonous, asphyxiating, or irritant atmosphere

gas

transitive verb

gassed; gassing

Medical Definition of gas (Entry 2 of 3)

1 : to treat chemically with gas

2 : to poison or otherwise affect adversely with gas

GAS

Medical Definition of GAS (Entry 3 of 3)

general adaptation syndrome

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