gulf

1 of 2

noun

1
: a part of an ocean or sea extending into the land
2
: a deep chasm : abyss
3
4
: a wide gap
the gulf between generations

gulf

2 of 2

verb

gulfed; gulfing; gulfs

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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Noun
The gulf is wide: In 2022, bachelor’s degree holders made an average of 59% more than those who only graduated high school, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. Alexandra Byrne, NBC News, 17 Nov. 2024 What explains this apparent gulf between the technicals and fundamentals? Shawn Tully, Fortune, 29 Oct. 2024
Verb
So many gulfs separate us now: geographical, anatomical, psychological. Ferris Jabr, Smithsonian, 8 Jan. 2018 See all Example Sentences for gulf 

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

Time Traveler
The first known use of gulf was in the 15th century

Dictionary Entries Near gulf

Cite this Entry

“Gulf.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/gulf. Accessed 7 Dec. 2024.

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

More from Merriam-Webster on gulf

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