gut

1 of 4

noun

ˈgət 

1

a

: bowels, entrails

—usually used in plural

fish guts

b

: digestive tract

also : part of the digestive tract and especially the intestine or stomach

c

: belly, abdomen

d

: catgut

2

guts plural : the inner essential parts

the guts of a car

3

guts plural : fortitude and stamina in coping with what alarms, repels, or discourages : courage, pluck

had the guts to run for public office

4

: the basic visceral, emotional, or instinctual part of a person

She knew in her gut that he was lying.

Consult more than one financial adviser before making a final choice, and trust your gut.

—Quentin Fottrell

My gut says this is, overall, a terrible idea.

—Erica Buist

—often used before another noun

making a gut decision

a gut feeling

"Tony's a very driven guy, and he makes a lot of decisions based on gut instinct," …

—Tom Nides

5

: a narrow passage

also : a narrow waterway or small creek

6

: the sac of silk taken from a silkworm ready to spin its cocoon and drawn out into a thread for use as a snell

7

: gut course

gut

2 of 4

adjective

1

: arising from one's instincts or emotions rather than logic or reason : visceral

a gut reaction

2

: having strong impact or immediate relevance

gut issues

gut

3 of 4

verb

gutted; gutting

transitive verb

1

a

: eviscerate

b

: to extract all the essential passages or portions from

2

a

: to destroy the inside of

fire gutted the building

b

: to destroy the essential power or effectiveness of

inflation gutting the economy

see also gut it out

GUT

4 of 4

abbreviation

grand unified theory; grand unification theory

Synonyms of gut

Noun

• inside(s)
• viscera
• entrails

Verb

• clean

Examples of gut in a Sentence

Noun

the guts of the fish

the guts of a machine

the guts of a business deal

That decision took a lot of guts.

I didn't have the guts to do it.

Verb

The salmon is already gutted and filleted.

Critics claim that these reforms will gut the law.

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

The gut-wrenching and emotionally driven Tony Award-winning score, written by Lynn Ahrens and Stephen Flaherty, was resonating in Scott’s belly. —Leigh Scheps, Parents, 13 Dec. 2025

The fact that calls here are so unbearably real adds an extra gut punch to an already distressing scenario. —Nancy Tartaglione, Deadline, 12 Dec. 2025

Adjective

Probiotic supplements also typically contain gut microbes that settle in the small intestine, but the vast majority of gut microbiota colonize in the colon, Alper explained. —Kaitlin Vogel, Health, 11 Dec. 2025

These included a small amount of muscle loss, increases in LDL and total cholesterol, and other reported issues such as possible nutritional deficiencies, gut microbiota changes, gastrointestinal symptoms, hyperuricemia, and (in some research) bone-health concerns. —Emily Kay Votruba, EverydayHealth.com, 3 Dec. 2025

Verb

Last week’s shameful hearing and vote to gut anti-corruption efforts showed the need for more accountability. —Ross O'Keefe, The Washington Examiner, 10 Dec. 2025

In general, beans are great for you, and they've been linked to better gut health, weight management, and other benefits. —Julia Landwehr, Health, 8 Dec. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Noun, Adjective, and Verb

Middle English, from Old English guttas, plural; probably akin to Old English gēotan to pour

First Known Use

Noun

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a(1)

Adjective

1964, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

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

Phrases Containing gut

• beer gut
• blind gut
• bust a/one's gut
• gut check
• gut course
• gut it out
• gut-wrenching

Rhymes for gut

• but
• butt
• cut
• glut
• hut
• jut
• mutt
• nut
• putt
• rut
• shut
• smut

Kids Definition

gut

1 of 2 noun

ˈgət 

1

a

: entrails, viscera

—usually used in plural

b

: the alimentary canal or part of it (as the intestine or stomach)

c

: abdomen sense 1, belly

2

plural : the inner essential parts

3

plural : courage

gut

2 of 2 verb

gutted; gutting

1

: to remove the entrails from

scale and gut a fish

2

: to destroy the inside of

fire gutted the building

Medical Definition

gut

1 of 2 noun

ˈgət 

1

a

: digestive tract

also : part of the digestive tract and especially the intestine or stomach

the mix of bacteria making up the flora of the gut

—W. E. Leary

b

: abdomen sense 1a, belly

—usually used in plural

—not often in formal use

his huge gut hung far below his belt

—L. M. Uris

2

: catgut

gut

2 of 2 transitive verb

gutted; gutting

: to take out the bowels of : eviscerate