gag

verb

ˈgag 

gagged; gagging

transitive verb

1

a

: to restrict use of the mouth of by inserting something into it to prevent speech or outcry

b

: to prevent from exercising freedom of speech or expression

trying to gag the press

legally gagged from discussing the case

c

: to pry or hold open with a gag

2

: to provide or write quips or pranks for

gag a show

3

: to choke or cause to retch

intransitive verb

1

a

: choke

also : to suffer a throat spasm that makes swallowing or breathing difficult

b

: retch

2

: to be unable to endure something : balk

The boys gagged at all the kissing and goo-goo eyes.

3

: to make quips

gagger noun

Synonyms of gag

• vomit

Examples of gag in a Sentence

The government is trying to gag the press.

the terrible smell of rotting fish made me gag

Recent Examples on the Web

My mother felt grit on her skin and the fumes gagged her. —Literary Hub, 3 June 2026

This Spanish detective thriller The Marked Woman follows a pair of police officers who are assigned the case of an amnesiac woman found bound and gagged in a shipping container at the Port of Barcelona. —K. Thor Jensen, PC Magazine, 27 May 2026

Victims of Harvey Weinstein have spoken in the past about being gagged by NDAs. —Max Goldbart, Deadline, 14 May 2026

The thieves bound and gagged Mary Kay, per Gavenas, and stole $9,000 worth of different expensive items, including fur coats and jewelry. —Angela Andaloro, PEOPLE, 13 May 2026

Word History

Etymology

Middle English gaggen "to strangle," of imitative origin

First Known Use

1509, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1a

Phrases Containing gag

• gag order
• gag rule
• running joke/gag
• sight gag

Rhymes for gag

• ag
• bag
• brag
• dag
• drag
• flag
• hag
• hagg
• lag
• mag
• nag
• rag

Kids Definition

gag

1 of 2 verb

ˈgag 

gagged; gagging

1

: to prevent from speaking or crying out by or as if by stopping up the mouth

2

a

: to vomit or cause to feel like vomiting

b

: choke entry 1 sense 2

3

: to be unable to endure something : balk

4

: to tell jokes

gag

2 of 2 noun

1

a

: something thrust into the mouth especially to prevent speech or outcry

b

: a restraint on free speech

2

: something said or done to cause laughter

3

: prank