gulp

American  

[guhlp] / gʌlp /

verb (used without object)

1. to gasp or choke, as when taking large drafts of a liquid.

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verb (used with object)

1. to swallow eagerly, or in large drafts or morsels (often followed bydown ).

   He gulps down his food like a starving man.

   Synonyms:

   guzzle, devour, bolt, quaff, gobble, wolf

2. to suppress, subdue, or choke back as if by swallowing.

   to gulp down a sob.

noun

1. the act of gulping.

   He drank the whole bottle of beer in one gulp.

2. the amount swallowed at one time; mouthful.

gulp British  

/ ɡʌlp /

verb

1. to swallow rapidly, esp in large mouthfuls

   to gulp down food

2. to stifle or choke

   to gulp back sobs

3. (intr) to swallow air convulsively, as while drinking, because of nervousness, surprise, etc

4. (intr) to make a noise, as when swallowing too quickly

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noun

1. the act of gulping

2. the quantity taken in a gulp

Other Word Forms

• gulper noun
• gulpingly adverb
• gulpy adjective

Etymology

Origin of gulp

1400–50; late Middle English gulpen (v.); compare Dutch gulpen, Norwegian glupa

Example Sentences

He gulped a nervous knot in his throat, then lifted his feet, and the shadow followed.

From Literature

He coughed and sputtered, swallowing large gulps of river water.

From Literature

Elon Musk took a gulp of water on stage at the World Economic Forum in Switzerland last month and started talking up one of his latest passions: data centers orbiting Earth.

From The Wall Street Journal

As I watched her march back to the house, I took a giant gulp of iced tea from the old stone jug.

From Literature

As we wound along the mountain road, Olka cranked her window down, leaned out, and gulped at the air as if to eat it.

From Literature

Related Words

• consume
• gobble
• guzzle
• imbibe
• inhale
• quaff
• swallow
• swig
• swill