gulf

1 of 2

noun

ˈgəlf 

1

: a part of an ocean or sea extending into the land

2

: a deep chasm : abyss

3

: whirlpool

4

: a wide gap

the gulf between generations

gulf

2 of 2

verb

gulfed; gulfing; gulfs

transitive verb

: engulf

Synonyms of gulf

Noun

• bay
• estuary
• cove
• firth

Verb

• flood
• engulf
• overwhelm

Examples of gulf in a Sentence

Noun

we dipped our feet in the warm waters of the gulf

the gulf of understanding between the two men was too wide for them to ever get along

Verb

with the administration gulfed by so many real problems, it's absurd for the president to concern himself with this nonissue

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Ultra-wealthy buyers drive up home prices Daryl Fairweather, the chief economist at Redfin, said the gulf between the luxury and non-luxury housing markets in Miami and West Palm Beach is driven by South Florida’s ultra-wealthy buyers. — Catherine Odom, Miami Herald, 15 July 2026

In fact, a gulf existed between him and the seventh spot on the list. — Lawrence Dow, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 13 July 2026

In response, Iran hit gulf Arab states in an escalating cycle of violence that left the negotiations between Tehran and Washington to end the war at the edge of collapse. — Jon Gambrell, Los Angeles Times, 12 July 2026

The weak performance once again highlights persistent concerns over the enormous gulf between the company’s nearly $2 trillion valuation and its nonexistent profits. — Victor Tangermann, Futurism, 8 July 2026

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English goulf, from Middle French golfe, from Italian golfo, from Late Latin colpus, from Greek kolpos bosom, gulf; akin to Old English hwealf vault, Old High German walbo

First Known Use

Noun

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

1807, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for gulf

• gulph
• engulf

Kids Definition

gulf

noun

ˈgəlf

1

: a part of an ocean or sea extending into the land

2

: a deep hollow in the earth : chasm, abyss

3

: a difference between two people, groups, or things