gel

1 of 2

noun

ˈjel 

plural gels

1

: a colloid in a more solid form than a sol

broadly : jelly sense 2

2

: a thin colored transparent sheet used over a stage light to color it

3

: a gelatinous preparation: such as

a

: hair gel

b

: hand gel

gel

2 of 2

verb

gelled; gelling

intransitive verb

1

: to change into or take on the form of a gel : set

2

: jell sense 1

transitive verb

: to style with hair gel

gelled his hair back

gelable

ˈje-lə-bəl 

adjective

Synonyms of gel

Verb

• freeze
• stiffen
• jelly
• jell
• coagulate
• gelatinize
• clump
• congeal
• clot

Examples of gel in a Sentence

Verb

The mixture will gel as it cools.

Our plans are finally starting to gel.

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

The arachnid’s abdomen is made up of neon green cat-eye gel that looks like an eyeball. — Margaux Anbouba, Vogue, 20 Oct. 2026

Once applied, the gel forms a thin layer over the tooth that acts like a scaffold, guiding calcium and phosphate from saliva into new crystals that follow the structure of the enamel underneath. — Ryan Brennan, Miami Herald, 20 Oct. 2026

Verb

Gash’s weakest moments come in times like these, when the band strips back its sound into solitary parts that fail to gel. — Nina Corcoran, Pitchfork, 13 Oct. 2026

Nowhere has that been more evident than in Mbappe and Vinicius Jr’s failure to gel together. — Mario Cortegana, New York Times, 10 Oct. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Noun

gelatin

First Known Use

Noun

1899, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

1917, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing gel

• gel electrophoresis
• gel ice
• gel permeation chromatography
• hair gel
• hand gel
• shower gel
• silica gel

Rhymes for gel

• bel
• belle
• cel
• cell
• dell
• dwell
• el
• ell
• fel
• fell
• gell
• jell

Kids Definition

gel

1 of 2 noun

ˈjel 

: a solid jellylike colloid (as gelatin dessert)

gel

2 of 2 verb

gelled; gelling

: to change into or take on the form of a gel

Medical Definition

gel

1 of 2 noun

ˈjel 

: a colloid in a more solid form than a sol

gel

2 of 2 intransitive verb

gelled; gelling

: to change into or take on the form of a gel

gelable

ˈjel-ə-bəl 

adjective