gulp

verb

ˈgəlp 

gulped; gulping; gulps

transitive verb

1

: to swallow hurriedly or greedily or in one swallow

2

: to keep back as if by swallowing

gulp down a sob

3

: to take in readily as if by swallowing

gulp down knowledge

intransitive verb

: to catch the breath as if in taking a long drink

gulp noun

gulper noun

Synonyms

• sip
• drink

Examples of gulp in a Sentence

She told him not to gulp his food.

The exhausted racers lay on the ground, gulping air.

The exhausted racers were gulping for air.

I gulped nervously before beginning my speech.

“That's a lot of money,” she gulped.

He gulped back tears as he thanked the rescuers.

Recent Examples on the Web

What's more, while virtually all VTOLs being developed these days are electric, the Janus-1 is powered by a turboshaft engine that gulps n' burns diesel, kerosene or Jet A fuel. —Ben Coxworth october 21, New Atlas, 21 Oct. 2025

Perhaps a whale or a shark would arrive to gulp down the passengers, one by one. —Catherine Lacey, New Yorker, 5 Oct. 2025

Thinking beat human experts on 79% of the tasks that sales manager perform and 75% of those that editors perform (gulp!). —Jeremy Kahn, Fortune, 30 Sep. 2025

Both bands specialize in grooves that feel bulbous and fetid: kick drums gulping with fear, flickering guitars evoking lantern light. —Spencer Kornhaber, The Atlantic, 26 Sep. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from a Middle Dutch or Middle Low German word akin to Dutch & Frisian gulpen to bubble forth, drink deep; akin to Old English gielpan to boast — more at yelp

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Rhymes for gulp

• pulp

Kids Definition

gulp

verb

ˈgəlp 

1

: to swallow hurriedly or greedily or in one swallow

2

: to keep back as if by swallowing

gulp down a sob

3

: to catch the breath as if in taking a long drink

gulp noun

gulper noun