gasp 1 of 2

as in to pant
to breathe hard, quickly, or with difficulty the runner was audibly gasping by the end of the marathon

Synonyms & Similar Words

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gasp

2 of 2

noun

Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of gasp
Verb
There was a pause, a collective gasp, among the spectators. Hanif Abdurraqib june 12, Literary Hub, 12 June 2025 Occasional gasps arose as the asteroid took shape and a jagged, rocky surface filled the view. IEEE Spectrum, 11 June 2025
Noun
Lots happens along the way, including the pair running into a pregnant infected woman, who gives birth to (gasp?) a completely healthy and normal baby, and eventually finding their way to Kelson. Kate Erbland, IndieWire, 20 June 2025 Williams’ family was sitting at the back of the courtroom and collectively gasped when prosecutors revealed the little boy is believed to have been alive when Williams threw him from the bridge. Rocco Parascandola, New York Daily News, 12 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for gasp
Recent Examples of Synonyms for gasp
Verb
  • Summer is the time for road trips, camping, and beach days — but for many of our furry friends, the sun and high temperatures can lead to overheating (signaled by your dog excessively panting and lying prone).
    Jeaneen Russell, People.com, 18 June 2025
  • Dogs everywhere — barking, panting and running away from their owners — was the scene Tuesday at a pop-up wellness clinic for pets at the Catholic Charities Dorothy Day Campus Place in downtown St. Paul.
    Safiya Mohamed, Twin Cities, 17 June 2025
Noun
  • Lorde then disoriented her audience with 2021’s Solar Power, a warm sigh of an album from a star enjoying some well-deserved relaxation.
    Spencer Kornhaber, The Atlantic, 27 June 2025
  • Short in stature and wearing a blue apron, Gongora let out a big sigh and cried, using her fingers to wipe her tears.
    Ruben Vives, Los Angeles Times, 24 June 2025
Verb
  • When videos of Serwa heaving a knuckler at 88.5 mph hit the internet this winter, the baseball world noticed.
    Cody Stavenhagen, New York Times, 19 June 2025
  • The green folds of cliffs chanted our imagined names, caught winds heaving an ocean of clouds that piled like seawrack muffling the mill’s whistle, windrows of rain gathered upon the mountain’s emerald stacks, the black crown of the day’s celebration.
    Garrett Hongo, New Yorker, 2 June 2025
Noun
  • On a sunlit slope above the Aegean, the ruins of an old Greek estate whisper stories of power, legacy, and familial pride.
    Francois Botha, Forbes.com, 29 June 2025
  • What was once spoken only in whispers, if at all, by our mothers and grandmothers, is now trending on TikTok.
    Time, Time, 26 June 2025
Verb
  • One man began to hyperventilate while handcuffed on the ground after being detained.
    Alexandra Mendoza, San Diego Union-Tribune, 23 May 2025
  • Then Tanev left the game, and fans were probably hyperventilating.
    James Mirtle, New York Times, 10 May 2025
Noun
  • In an era when artists like Hendrix, The Who and The Rolling Stones were bending the world with sheer sonic force, Drake’s songs felt like murmurs lost in the storm.
    arkansasonline.com, arkansasonline.com, 5 July 2025
  • Yet, despite these strengths, there were murmurs that VidCon’s influence may be waning in some circles, with fewer brand booths and less corporate luster.
    Ian Shepherd, Forbes.com, 24 June 2025
Noun
  • When that harmony hits, the sale becomes a symphony: the crack of the register, the rustle of the bag, the quiet thrill of being chosen.
    Joel Goldstein, Forbes.com, 13 June 2025
  • There was no answer, just a footstep behind him and the rustle of a dress.
    Mara Bovsun, New York Daily News, 31 May 2025
Noun
  • Suffice to say, the 2025 Cannes market will be filled with even more groans on moans than years past.
    Elsa Ramo, Forbes.com, 6 May 2025
  • There's a push, and suddenly, a newborn's first cry replaces the mother's moans.
    Laura Gómez, Scientific American, 26 Mar. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Gasp.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/gasp. Accessed 8 Jul. 2025.

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