Showing definitions for gank

gank

American

[gangk] / gæŋk /

verb (used with object)

Slang.

to rob or mug (a person).
to steal or seize (something of value).
(in a video game) to kill (a character), especially an outnumbered, weaker, or lower level player character.

I got ganked in the jungle—never saw it coming.

noun

Slang.

(in a video game) the killing of one character by another, especially when the killer character has a powerful or unfair advantage over the victim.

Early ganks aren’t very effective, so you should save those attacks for later.

Etymology

Origin of gank

First recorded in 1985–90; in 2000–05 gank for defs. 3, 4; from African American Vernacular English; further origin uncertain

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Like if a big guy says he’s good at video games, even though you know you’d gank him, you just keep your mouth shut.

From "Everything Sad Is Untrue" by Daniel Nayeri

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023