gasp

play

verb \ ˈgasp \

Definition of gasp

intransitive verb

1 :to catch the breath convulsively and audibly (as with shock)

2 :to breathe laboriously

transitive verb

:to utter in a gasping manner

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gasp

noun

See gasp defined for English-language learners

See gasp defined for kids

Examples of gasp in a Sentence

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 of gasp from the Web

His hands on his hips, Barrington quarterback Ray Niro gasped for some air upon finding a quiet spot on the sidelines late in the third quarter Friday during a game against Warren.

— bob narang, chicagotribune.com, "Ray Niro dazzles behind new offensive line as Barrington sinks Warren," 26 Aug. 2017
However, babies with heart problems tend to have other issues that you or your child's pediatrician would easily pick up on like lethargy, difficulty feeding, a bluish skin tone, or gasping.

— korin miller, SELF, "Exactly How Crucial Are These High-Tech Baby-Monitoring Devices?," 14 Aug. 2017
Many gasped in horror when Harter revealed that Gershwin died in 1937 at the age of 38.

— bill brownlee, kansascity, "George Gershwin comes to life at MTH Theater’s new production," 13 Aug. 2017
Apnea occurs when breathing passages are blocked during sleep, causing people to gasp for breath during the night.

— alan levin, Bloomberg.com, "Trump Administration Halts Federal Effort to Combat Truckers' Sleep Disorder," 4 Aug. 2017
School choice, by contrast, means parents often choose institutions dominated by conservatives, libertarians, or (gasp) Christians.

— david french, National Review, "To Defend Public Schools, the Hard Left Puts On the Tinfoil Hat," 31 July 2017
The audience of tourists, staffers and journalists gasped.

— ben terris, sacbee, "‘Wait for the show’: High drama and low voices in a long, weird night at the Capitol," 28 July 2017
Klein collapsed and fell suddenly ill — she could be heard gasping for air in the background as Ferrante called 911 for an ambulance — on April 17, 2013.

— joe mandak, The Seattle Times, "Man’s appeal in wife’s cyanide poisoning: Case lacks proof," 13 July 2017
For services, a Brazilian wax on average costs $37.50 here, compared to $5.81 in Egypt (gasp).

— rachel nussbaum, Glamour, "This Is How Much Beauty Products and Services Cost Around the World," 29 June 2017

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

Origin and Etymology of gasp

Middle English; akin to Old Norse geispa to yawn

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 14th century

See Words from the same year

gasp Synonyms

Synonyms

blow, heave, hyperventilate, pant, puff, wheeze, be out of breath

Related Words

choke, gag, gulp, huff; asphyxiate, smother, stifle, strangle; snore, snuffle; exhale, expire

GASP Defined for English Language Learners

gasp

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verb

Definition of gasp for English Language Learners

: to breathe in suddenly and loudly with your mouth open because of surprise, shock, or pain
: to breathe with difficulty
: to say (something) with quick, difficult breaths