vomit

1 of 2

verb

vom·​it ˈvä-mət 

vomited; vomiting; vomits

intransitive verb

1

: to disgorge the stomach contents

2

: to spew forth : belch, gush

transitive verb

1

: to disgorge (the contents of the stomach) through the mouth

2

: to eject violently or abundantly : spew

3

: to cause to vomit

vomiter noun

vomit

2 of 2

noun

1

: an act or instance of disgorging the contents of the stomach through the mouth

also : the disgorged matter

2

: emetic

Synonyms

Verb

• barf
• gag
• heave
• hurl
• puke
• retch
• spew
• spit up
• throw up
• upchuck

Examples of vomit in a Sentence

Verb

The dog vomited on the floor.

The patient was vomiting blood.

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

Sportsnet cameras caught Stolarz vomiting over the boards and into a bucket brought over by the team’s training staff. —Jordan McPherson, Miami Herald, 6 May 2025

Stolarz, who took an earlier fastball to his facemask, soon skated to the bench and vomited over the boards. —Dave Hyde, Sun Sentinel, 6 May 2025

Noun

The process could also involve collecting samples, such as vomit or stool, to send to a shoreside laboratory to confirm the causative agent. —Nathan Diller, USA Today, 29 Apr. 2025

The rich sat on deck while the poor were squeezed in the hold below, with no place to relieve themselves, so excrement, vomit, and other wastes flowed down into the lower areas. —Lauren Vuong, Mercury News, 19 Apr. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English, from Anglo-French vomite, from Latin vomitus, from vomere to vomit; akin to Old Norse vāma seasickness, Greek emein to vomit

First Known Use

Verb

15th century, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1

Noun

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for vomit

• comet
• grommet
• recommit

Kids Definition

vomit

1 of 2 noun

vom·​it ˈväm-ət 

: an act of throwing up the contents of the stomach through the mouth

also : the matter thrown up

vomit

2 of 2 verb

: to throw up the contents of the stomach through the mouth

vomiter noun

Medical Definition

vomit

1 of 2 noun

vom·​it ˈväm-ət 

1

: vomiting

2

: stomach contents disgorged through the mouth

called also vomitus

vomit

2 of 2 intransitive verb

: to disgorge the stomach contents

transitive verb

: to disgorge (the contents of the stomach) through the mouth