gasp

[gasp, gahsp]

noun

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.

verb (used without object)

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)

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 ).

gasp

/ 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

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

Other Word Forms

• gaspingly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of gasp¹

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of gasp¹

C14: from Old Norse geispa to yawn; related to Swedish dialect gispa, Danish gispe

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

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

   At his last gasp he confessed to the murder.

see last gasp.

Synonym Study

See pant ¹.

Example Sentences

The heat not only sends players gasping for water bottles, it also brings along unpredictable thunderstorms that pose a risk to anyone inside a stadium.

Read more on Wall Street Journal

They squeezed them down to their last gasps.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

It is the reason we gasp when a line cuts close to the bone, the reason we rise to our feet when an actor brings us somewhere we didn’t know we could go.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

McDonald yanked the plane from an upright position and tumbled over into a glide, drawing gasps that transformed into cheers.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Signs of Estevao's quality were evident in previous matches, with his array of nutmegs, flicks and other eye-catching moments drawing gasps from the crowd.

Read more on BBC

Related Words

• choke 
• snort 
• whoop