gasped; gasping; gasps
1
: to catch the breath convulsively and audibly (as with shock)
2
: to breathe laboriously
: to utter in a gasping manner
plural gasps
: an act of gasping : a sudden loud intake of breath with one's mouth because of surprise, shock, pain, etc.
He let out an audible gasp at the sight of the snake.
a gasp of surprise
His eyes looked wild and strange from the fever; he trembled continuously, and each breath he took sounded like a gasp for life.—
Robert C. O'Brien
Robert C. O'BrienIn the next hour Lemieux drew gasps from the crowd half a dozen more times …—E. M. Swift
E. M. SwiftExamples of gasp in a Sentence
Verb
Mom gasped in surprise at the sight of my sister's new haircut.
He gasped as he stepped into the icy water.
a dying man gasping for breath
She was gasping for air.
Recent Examples on the Web
Mark Gurarie, Verywell Health, 9 July 2025
Symptoms include snoring, gasping during sleep, waking up tired and difficulty falling or staying asleep
Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD)
This condition is caused by the inflammatory proteins that are present in both psoriasis and metabolic syndrome, Dupati says.
—Elizabeth Yuko, Flow Space, 7 July 2025
Liza Esquibias, People.com, 23 June 2025
Now, apparently, there are gasps when the 2,280 seated in the Palladium catch sight of the masses gathered outside.
—Baz Bamigboye, Deadline, 20 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for gasp
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Verb
Breathing difficulties: The shock of sudden cold-water exposure can cause bouts of wheezing, gasping, and rapid breathing (hyperventilating).
—Mark Gurarie, Verywell Health, 9 July 2025
Symptoms include snoring, gasping during sleep, waking up tired and difficulty falling or staying asleep
Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD)
This condition is caused by the inflammatory proteins that are present in both psoriasis and metabolic syndrome, Dupati says.
—Elizabeth Yuko, Flow Space, 7 July 2025
Noun
Cynthia Bailey, who has known Porsha for over 13 years, let out an audible gasp as Shamea began to sob in Phaedra's arms.
—Liza Esquibias, People.com, 23 June 2025
Now, apparently, there are gasps when the 2,280 seated in the Palladium catch sight of the masses gathered outside.
—Baz Bamigboye, Deadline, 20 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for gasp
Cite this Entry
“Gasp.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/gasp. Accessed 12 Jul. 2025.
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