gobble

¹

[gob-uhl]

verb (used with object)

gobbled, gobbling 

1. to swallow or eat hastily or hungrily in large pieces; gulp.

   Synonyms: devour, bolt

2. to seize upon eagerly (often followed byup ).

   After being gone for so long, they gobbled up all the local news.

verb (used without object)

gobbled, gobbling 

1. to eat hastily.

gobble

²

[gob-uhl]

verb (used without object)

gobbled, gobbling 

1. to make the characteristic throaty cry of a male turkey.

noun

1. the cry itself.

gobble

¹

/ ˈɡɒbəl /

noun

1. the loud rapid gurgling sound made by male turkeys

interjection

1. an imitation of this sound

verb

1. (intr) (of a turkey) to make this sound

gobble

²

/ ˈɡɒbəl /

verb

1. to eat or swallow (food) hastily and in large mouthfuls

2. informal,  to snatch

Word History and Origins

Origin of gobble¹

1595–1605; probably imitative; gob ¹, -le

Origin of gobble²

First recorded in 1670–80; variant of gabble

Word History and Origins

Origin of gobble¹

C17: probably of imitative origin

Origin of gobble²

C17: probably from _gob ¹

Example Sentences

“Thank you, God, for this yummy food we’re about to gobble down, amen.”

Read more on Literature

They are gobbling each other up to expand their inventories, which Wall Street sees as less risky than exploring for new resources.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

What Netflix was able to roll out was gobbled up almost immediately.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

It aims to prevent the wealthiest owners from gobbling up all available superstars.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Power plants that had been slated for closure have been pressed into longer service while new ones come online as tech giants gobble up gigawatts of capacity.

Read more on Barron's

Related Words

• devour 
• gulp 
• guzzle 
• swallow