gab
verb (used without object)
to talk or chat idly; chatter.
gab
1 American
[gab]
/ gæb /
verb (used without object)
-
gabs,
present (3rd person singular)
-
gabbed,
past participle, past
-
gabbing
present participle
noun
gab
2
American
[gab]
/ gæb /
noun
Machinery.
gab
3
American
[gab]
/ gæb /
noun
Scot. Slang.
gab
1
British
/ ɡæb /
verb
noun
-
idle or trivial talk
-
ability to speak effortlessly, glibly, or persuasively
gab
2
British
/ ɡæb /
noun
-
a hook or open notch in a rod or lever that drops over the spindle of a valve to form a temporary connection for operating the valve
-
a pointed tool used in masonry
GAB
3
British
abbreviation
gab
Idioms
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
-
gabsimple
-
gabssimple
-
have gabbedperfect
-
has gabbedperfect
-
am gabbingprogressive
-
are gabbingprogressive
-
is gabbingprogressive
-
have been gabbingperfect progressive
-
has been gabbingperfect progressive
Past
-
gabbedsimple
-
had gabbedperfect
-
was gabbingprogressive
-
were gabbingprogressive
-
had been gabbingperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of gab1
First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English noun gab, gabbe “deceit, falsehood, idle talk”; probably from Old Norse gabba “to mock”; cf. gabble
Origin of gab2
First recorded in 1790–95; origin uncertain; possibly from Dutch dialect gabbe “notch, gash”
Explanation
When you gab, you chatter on and on. You might like to gab on the phone with your friend after school. To talk and talk, especially about gossipy or trivial things, is to gab. Your dad might gab over the fence with the neighbor, and you may sit in the front of the bus so you can gab with the friendly driver. You can also describe the chatter itself as gab. The oldest meaning of gab may come from thirteenth century Scottish dialect, "to reproach," although it may in fact be rooted in the Old French gobe, "mouthful or lump."
Vocabulary lists containing gab
Talk the Talk: Synonyms for "Wordy"
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
The Egypt Game
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
Absolutely Normal Chaos
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
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.
See Examples For:
Anyone who has ever watched an interview with Mr. McConaughey, or delved into his enchanting memoir “Greenlights,” is aware that listening to him gab is a treat.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 13, 2026
"Laurent had the good-natured gab, Simone the uncompromising discourse," French newspaper Le Monde said of the Gbagbos' political partnership.
From BBC ● Sep. 12, 2025
“America’s Talking gab grabbing cable viewers,” USA Today, July 6, 1995.
From Slate ● Sep. 25, 2024
In his five days on the stand, Watson brought his trademark suaveness and gift of gab — and why not?
From Salon ● Sep. 14, 2024
“So, you two going to gab all day or order?”
From "Shouting at the Rain" by Lynda Mullaly Hunt
“The new GAB will enable constituents, visitors and all interested parties to more easily observe and actively participate in the lawmaking process,” House Speaker Todd Gilbert said in a statement.
From Washington Times ● Aug. 30, 2023
Schimel recommended that six former GAB staff members and three Milwaukee County district attorney employees face contempt charges for disobeying court secrecy orders.
From Seattle Times ● Dec. 19, 2017
He also asked that one of them, former GAB attorney Shane Falk, face discipline from the Office of Lawyer Regulation.
From Seattle Times ● Dec. 17, 2017
The GAB was dissolved and replaced with separate Ethics and Elections commissions.
From Washington Times ● Dec. 12, 2017
I am not of their land, neither of their fashion," said the Knight, "which is, as thou well sayest, to GAB of that which they dare not undertake—or, undertaking, cannot perfect.
From The Talisman by Sir Walter Scott
Paul puts ‘bust’ in filibuster He doesn’t make it on the list of longest Senate gabs — but reading from Twitter instead of phone books might be a first.
From Washington Post ● Mar. 8, 2013
And in an era in which Lady Gaga gabs on about subverting gender and sexuality norms, these fellows strut the strut.
From New York Times ● Aug. 1, 2012
Mark, a towering, perennially upbeat presence, relentlessly gabs away; Jay, short and bearded, lingers alongside.
From New York Times ● Jun. 11, 2010
Scarlet gabs on a phone attached to the wall, Ruby reads a book, and Carmen admires herself in the sunlight that cascades through a window.
From Slate ● May 26, 2009
Mrs. Fischer gabs about our quest to save the coyote until Ms. Andrews cuts her off.
From "Wayward Creatures" by Dayna Lorentz
The two strangers gabbed on and on as FitzGerald turned off the highway and looped through side streets.
From Salon ● Jan. 9, 2022
As they waited for the medical team to come over, they gabbed about things on the block, who had moved where.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 18, 2021
Some people gabbed, some groused; others stood silently, forming a line that snaked around the block, waiting for Century 21, the Lower Manhattan bargain hunters’ mecca, to open for business.
From New York Times ● Sep. 10, 2020
Every woman I’ve gabbed with this week, at least the ones who read the whole affidavit, mentioned that breezy, cheeky line.
From Washington Post ● Mar. 14, 2019
"I don't have one, remember? You gabbed every other bit of me quick enough."
From "A Clash of Kings" by George R.R. Martin
Each Friday through the election, the Surge will join host Mary Harris on Slate’s What Next podcast for 15 minutes of gabbing about the most important political nonsense of the week.
From Slate ● Sep. 21, 2024
And the last scene of “Maisel” jumps ahead several decades and we see the two women as seniors still gabbing, but now via phone as they are no longer living in the same city.
From Los Angeles Times ● May 26, 2023
Residents go to the post office on Fetters Mill Road near the old train tracks to snag their letters and packages while gabbing with friends and relatives they run into.
From Seattle Times ● Aug. 21, 2022
He has been a nightlife regular at a private club in NoHo, gabbing merrily with Ronn Torossian, a publicist with past ties to former President Donald J. Trump.
From New York Times ● Oct. 23, 2021
The night before the trip, we sisters stayed up late packing and gabbing.
From "How the García Girls Lost Their Accents" by Julia Alvarez
Random Word
Spin the wheel and learn a new word!
Get a wordDefinitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
