gorge

¹ American  

[gawrj] / gɔrdʒ /

noun

1. a narrow cleft with steep, rocky walls, especially one through which a stream runs.

   Synonyms:

   gap, notch, ravine, defile

2. a small canyon.

3. a gluttonous meal.

4. something that is swallowed; contents of the stomach.

5. an obstructing mass.

   an ice gorge.

6. the seam formed at the point where the lapel meets the collar of a jacket or coat.

7. Fortification. the rear entrance or part of a bastion or similar outwork.

8. Also called gorge hook.  a primitive type of fishhook consisting of a piece of stone or bone with sharpened ends and a hole or groove in the center for fastening a line.

9. the throat; gullet.

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verb (used with object)

gorged, gorging

1. to stuff with food (usually used reflexively or passively).

   He gorged himself. They were gorged.

   Synonyms:

   fill, cram, glut

2. to swallow, especially greedily.

   Synonyms:

   gobble, gulp, bolt, devour

3. to choke up (usually used passively).

verb (used without object)

gorged, gorging

1. to eat greedily.

idioms

1. make one's gorge rise, to evoke violent anger or strong disgust.

   The cruelty of war made his gorge rise.

gorge ² American  

[gawrj] / gɔrdʒ /

noun

Heraldry.

1. gurge.

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gorge British  

/ ɡɔːdʒ /

noun

1. a deep ravine, esp one through which a river runs

2. the contents of the stomach

3. feelings of disgust or resentment (esp in the phrase one's gorge rises )

4. an obstructing mass

   an ice gorge

5. fortifications

   1. a narrow rear entrance to a work

   2. the narrow part of a bastion or outwork

6. archaic the throat or gullet

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verb

1. (intr) falconry (of hawks) to eat until the crop is completely full

2. to swallow (food) ravenously

3. (tr) to stuff (oneself) with food

gorge Scientific  

/ gôrj /

1. A deep, narrow valley with steep rocky sides, often with a stream flowing through it. Gorges are smaller and narrower than canyons and are often a part of a canyon.

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Other Word Forms

• gorgeable adjective
• gorgedly adverb
• gorger noun

Etymology

Origin of gorge

First recorded in 1325–75; (verb) Middle English, from Old French gorger, derivative of gorge “throat,” from unattested Vulgar Latin gorga, akin to Latin gurguliō “gullet, throat,” gurges “whirlpool, eddy”

Explanation

A gorge is a very deep crevice between two mountains or hills. Gorges are formed by rivers running through and eroding rock over a very long period of time. The Latin root of gorge means "throat," leading to both the "narrow passage" meaning and the French gorgier, "to swallow," which influenced the verb version of gorge, "to overeat." You may love to gorge on ice cream, but the stomachache afterward won't be very pleasant. To remember the "canyon" meaning, think of the famous upstate New York bumper sticker, “Ithaca is gorges.” It's a play on gorgeous, meaning beautiful, and the beautiful ravines in the area.

Example Sentences

Then there’s a gorge in between and it’s filled with all these, like, monster people that are trying to get them.

From MarketWatch • Jan. 6, 2026

He approves of credit, too, despite the human proclivity to alternately gorge and fast on loans and bonds and mortgages.

From The Wall Street Journal • Dec. 12, 2025

They'd been admiring the scenery and snapping selfies and were making their way along a footpath by the Graig Llech gorge when Lola veered off the path.

From BBC • Nov. 14, 2025

It is similar to being at the bottom of a deep gorge, where signals reach you only after multiple reflections from the walls.

From Science Daily • Oct. 9, 2025

And to his uncle’s son he said, although the gorge rose in his throat, yet he said, “Here is a bit of silver, for young men will play.”

From "The Good Earth" by Pearl S. Buck

Related Words

• canyon
• chasm
• crevasse
• ravine