Jump To:

• gps
  gps

  abbreviation

  gallons per second.
• GPS
  GPS

  abbreviation

  Global Positioning System:

gps

¹ American  

Or GPS,

abbreviation

1. gallons per second.

---

GPS ² American  

[jee-pee-es] / ˈdʒiˈpiˈɛs /

abbreviation

1. Global Positioning System:

   1. a global system of U.S. navigational satellites developed to provide precise positional and velocity data and global time synchronization for air, sea, and land travel.

   2. an electronic system that uses these satellites to determine the position of a vehicle, person, etc..

      School buses will be equipped with GPS.

   3. Also called GPS receiver.  a receiver that determines its position by analyzing the satellite signals it receives.

      With the GPS in a smartphone, a utilities maintenance crew can navigate to within a few feet of a water meter.

---

verb (used with object)

GPSed, GPS'd, GPSing

1. to locate, track, or map by using a GPS system: The trail was scouted and GPSed by volunteers.

   My dad asked me to GPS the nearest gas station.

   The trail was scouted and GPSed by volunteers.

2. to equip with a GPS system.

   My new Honda is GPSed.

verb (used without object)

GPSed, GPS'd, GPSing

1. to use a GPS system to get to a place.

   With two hours to kill in an unfamiliar area, I GPSed to a shopping center.

GPS British  

abbreviation

1. global positioning system

2. (in Australia) Great Public Schools; used of a group of mainly nonstate schools, and of sporting competitions between them

---

GPS Scientific  

1. Abbreviation of Global Positioning System

---

Etymology

Origin of GPS

First recorded in 1970–75

Example Sentences

For the journey, he is driving a ’64 Chevy Impala station wagon with a GPS unit inside so that armchair travelers can follow his journey on the web.

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 6, 2026

The GPS unit sends an alert to a monitoring crew that can quickly respond to tag and release the animal.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 31, 2026

The GPS unit sends an alert to a monitoring crew that can quickly respond to tag and release the animal.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 31, 2026

She said the reduction in GPS unit thefts showed the value of sharing information and best practice across the sector.

From BBC • May 30, 2026

That was back when they were inseparable, when they were both into geocaching, a treasure-hunting game that uses a GPS to find hidden stashes of goodies, and the early days of Book Scavenger.

From "Book Scavenger" by Jennifer Chambliss Bertman