gator
Americannoun
-
gators
plural
noun
Other Word Forms
Noun Inflected Forms
Etymology
Origin of gator
An Americanism dating back to 1835–45; shortened form
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:
"I can say with confidence that I won't meet another gator like Claude in my lifetime. I'll miss him terribly," Krol said.
From BBC ● Jan. 19, 2026
The AI tool shares its name, Claude, with a 30-year-old albino gator that’s become a local celebrity.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 16, 2025
The “Wedding Singer” and “50 First Dates” star also reminisced on totally real encounters with the gator including sharing a candy bar.
From Los Angeles Times ● May 15, 2025
The agency said in a statement that the gator was “released in a remote location,” but stressed that it doesn’t know if the reptile was Wally.
From Seattle Times ● May 1, 2024
He liked cats and bugs and would be thrilled to see a gator.
From "Three Little Words: A Memoir" by Ashley Rhodes-Courter
Florida has about 1.3 million alligators, and it is a crime to kill them, although the state euthanizes some 7,000 gators a year to reduce the risk of attacks on humans.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 26, 2026
The tourists couldn’t believe they were out in the wild with the gators; they crouched down and posed for selfies next to them.
From Salon ● Aug. 17, 2025
There’s a noticeable pride Morot takes in touring me around his geek’s paradise: a two-level office crammed with shelves of scowling latex heads, furry creatures and a pair of giant gators overlooking it all.
From Los Angeles Times ● May 14, 2025
Jennifer Dean told 10 Tampa Bay: "It's crazy. My kids walk by there all the time. So it's really scary. I've seen four or five-feet gators but nothing that big."
From BBC ● Sep. 24, 2023
“I haven’t really spent any time there. If I’m not swimming, I’m taking care of the animals. There isn’t much time for exploring. I suppose the refuge has birds, gators, deer, snakes … Florida things.”
From "Storm Runners" by Roland Smith
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Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
