gasp 1 of 2

Definition of gaspnext
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
As a result, the sympathetic nervous system is activated, triggering the release of stress hormones that prompt a person to gasp for air. Valerie Cacho, Verywell Health, 26 Feb. 2026 Galvan’s family and then officers called to the scene found him on the ground near a snowbank, gasping for breath. Nick Ferraro, Twin Cities, 24 Feb. 2026
Noun
Pecan is the last gasp of tree pollen before fall. Nicole Villalpando, Austin American Statesman, 11 Feb. 2026 Amid all that, Varsity Blues — about a Texas high-school football team rebelling against its abusive coach and holding on to one last gasp of glory before graduation — got a little lost. Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 11 Feb. 2026 See All Example Sentences for gasp
Recent Examples of Synonyms for gasp
Verb
  • On one of the machines a Cluely employee panted and huffed in the dark.
    Sam Kriss, Harpers Magazine, 24 Feb. 2026
  • On a recent Friday, Bernhardt dressed up, with a cashmere sweater, a pair of baggy, Free People pants, and a pair of Ugg boots.
    Emily M. Olson, Hartford Courant, 12 Feb. 2026
Noun
  • Netflix's pop reflected a sigh of relief analysts breathed after the streamer dropped its bid for Warner.
    Lisa Kailai Han, CNBC, 27 Feb. 2026
  • There was a sigh on the other end of the phone.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 20 Feb. 2026
Verb
  • Some superfans are even trying to heave patio chairs inside to get an up-close seat to the action, which, in this case, is the gargantuan screen that will be projecting the first episode of the show’s 50th season.
    Payton Turkeltaub, Variety, 4 Mar. 2026
  • The Iranian announcer was heaving.
    Gal Beckerman, The Atlantic, 3 Mar. 2026
Noun
  • Katie Von Schleicher, another quietly hypnotic singer-songwriter, lends some light synth and background vocals to West’s compositions, while Nate Mendelsohn blows breath into some single, whisper-quiet saxophone lines.
    Jayson Greene, Pitchfork, 3 Mar. 2026
  • For the past six months, whispers of a federal investigation echoed inside and around City Hall, the 29-story skyscraper in downtown Kansas City.
    Kacen Bayless, Kansas City Star, 3 Mar. 2026
Verb
  • Roscoe pulled over; his daughter started hyperventilating.
    Sean Gregory, Time, 10 Dec. 2025
  • Specifically, a 1940s B-picture conjuring up some heavy Maria Montez mojo, known as Kiss of the Spider Woman — a typically hyperventilating melodrama that featured a vamping diva playing several parts, including the venomous title character.
    David Fear, Rolling Stone, 11 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • The Charlotte Hornets are creating an unmistakable murmur throughout the city and beyond.
    Roderick Boone, Charlotte Observer, 28 Feb. 2026
  • Designed to whisk you away to the Amalfi Coast (complete with striped awnings, Baroque accents, and the gentle murmur of a central working fountain), Patatino serves up classic, hearty plates that can be greedily gobbled solo or ordered in larger portions for sharing.
    Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 24 Feb. 2026
Noun
  • In the field, Harry Truman’s Approval Rating whinnied and tossed its head, and Richard Nixon’s Approval Rating flopped on one side and emitted a horrible gurgle.
    Alexandra Petri, The Atlantic, 13 Feb. 2026
  • The sound of the waves and the gurgle of cascading water radiate a monastic serenity; the spa has a fine selection of hot-stone and deep-tissue massages.
    Chandrahas Choudhury, Condé Nast Traveler, 1 Mar. 2024
Noun
  • The multi-vehicle pile-up that ensues might go even dumber than a Rusko drop, yet there’s no escaping the anxiety that remains in the static hiss that closes the track.
    James Gui, Pitchfork, 6 Feb. 2026
  • By using studio-grade microphones, the earbuds can feed the surrounding soundscape directly into the listener’s ears with a sense of realism that’s free from any hiss or distortion.
    Mark Sparrow, Forbes.com, 30 Jan. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Gasp.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/gasp. Accessed 9 Mar. 2026.

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