gasp

American  

[gasp, gahsp] / gæsp, gɑsp /

noun

gasps plural

1. a sudden, short intake of breath, as in shock or surprise.

2. a convulsive effort to breathe.

3. a short, convulsive utterance.

   the words came out in gasps.

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verb (used without object)

gasps, present (3rd person singular) gasped, past participle, past gasping present participle

1. to catch one's breath.

   Synonyms:

   blow, puff

2. to struggle for breath with the mouth open; breathe convulsively.

   Synonyms:

   blow, puff

3. to long with breathless eagerness; desire; crave (usually followed by for orafter ).

verb (used with object)

gasps, present (3rd person singular) gasped, past participle, past gasping present participle

1. to utter with gasps (often followed by out, forth, away, etc.).

   She gasped out the words.

2. to breathe or emit with gasps (often followed byaway ).

idioms

1. last gasp, the point of death; dying.

   At his last gasp he confessed to the murder.

gasp British  

/ ɡɑːsp /

verb

1. (intr) to draw in the breath sharply, convulsively, or with effort, esp in expressing awe, horror, etc

2. (intr; foll by after or for) to crave

3. to utter or emit breathlessly

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noun

1. a short convulsive intake of breath

2. a short convulsive burst of speech

3. 1. at the point of death

   2. at the last moment

gasp More Idioms  

1. see last gasp.

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Synonym Usage

See pant ¹.

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• gaspingly
  adverb

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• gasps
  plural

Participles

• gasping
  present
• gasped
  past

Conjugated Forms

Present

• gasp
  simple
• gasps
  simple
• have gasped
  perfect
• has gasped
  perfect
• am gasping
  progressive
• are gasping
  progressive
• is gasping
  progressive
• have been gasping
  perfect progressive
• has been gasping
  perfect progressive

Past

• gasped
  simple
• had gasped
  perfect
• was gasping
  progressive
• were gasping
  progressive
• had been gasping
  perfect progressive

Future

• will gasp
  simple
• will have gasped
  perfect
• will be gasping
  progressive
• will have been gasping
  perfect progressive

Etymology

Origin of gasp

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English gaspen, probably Old English *gāspen, equivalent to Old Norse geispa; akin to gape

Explanation

A gasp is the sound made by a sharp inward breath. After running up a steep hill, your breath will come in gasps. When you make the sound of a gasp, you gasp: "It was so surprising to see my lost cat sitting calmly on the front porch that it made me gasp." People tend to gasp when they're shocked or hurt. A "last gasp" is the moment just before someone dies — it can also mean the point of completing or ending something: "It was the last gasp of video stores in my city when that one closed."

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

gasp gasps gasped gasping

It was quickly wiped out as Iran's push for a winner intensified, Mehdi Taremi scudding the bar, causing a visible gasp to emanate from the table below.

From BBC ● Jun. 27, 2026

Lee, then, is left wondering if this is the true nature of mortality: a long pattern of disappointments, up to and including the moment you gasp your final breath.

From Slate ● Jun. 11, 2026

The NBA does not officially track “nopes,” those moments when players look at the rim, gasp as Wembanyama eclipses it, and abruptly change their mind.

From The Wall Street Journal ● May 2, 2026

The directors, who have also dabbled in the “Scream” franchise, would rather get a laugh than a gasp.

From Los Angeles Times ● Mar. 19, 2026

Just one gasp of air, that's all I wanted.

From "City of the Plague God" by Sarwat Chadda

And as Ma gasps her final breaths, she makes her smart little girl promise to never lose sight of her ultimate goal.

From Salon ● Jul. 19, 2026

My second twist might incite even more gasps: Instead of tuna, bake a handsome fillet of Steelhead trout.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 7, 2026

There were gasps in the public gallery as the judge explained that.

From BBC ● Jun. 24, 2026

There were gasps from people sitting in the public gallery when the sentence was delivered.

From BBC ● Jun. 11, 2026

Rowan crept along behind Marlie, breathing in shallow gasps, making himself as thin and small as possible.

From "Rowan of Rin" by Emily Rodda

It was clear in the audio that he gasped.

From BBC ● Jul. 10, 2026

By the time many of these rising talents were accruing debt in graduate writing programs, the dream of a sustainable career in the nonprofit theater had already gasped its last breath.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 29, 2026

After the judge announced his ruling, Mangione supporters in the back pews of the gallery gasped in surprise.

From The Wall Street Journal ● May 18, 2026

"Muhammet hit the seagull!" he gasped, referring to the goalie.

From Barron's ● Feb. 24, 2026

Sue’s hair hid the worst of it, and Akira pulled away and gasped as she saw what lay underneath.

From "Two Degrees" by Alan Gratz

This time, Freeman and replacement Guy Pepper were dispatched to the sin-bin late on to leave England, gasping at 1,753m above sea level, down to 13 men for the final eight minutes.

From BBC ● Jul. 4, 2026

“I had kind of a mental health breakdown,” Tyson said, describing sleep deprivation so severe she felt drunk and anxiety attacks that left her gasping for air.

From The Wall Street Journal ● May 8, 2026

And while health care has deteriorated badly in recent years because of shortages of medicines and equipment, it remains free — a system gasping but not abandoned.

From Salon ● Feb. 15, 2026

Narvaez, who appeared to be gasping to keep up with Vine on the demanding final Corkscrew climb, paid tribute to his teammate.

From Barron's ● Jan. 22, 2026

He staggered to his feet, shaking himself free like a swimmer gasping for air.

From "Wolf Brother" by Michelle Paver

Related Words

• choke
• snort
• whoop