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

Residents and wild swimmers were horrified to find them washed up on Saturday, appearing to gasp for air, in the River Wensum through Norwich.

From BBC ● Aug. 2, 2026

It’s space in which we can cheer, gasp and leap out of seats along with our families, friends and all the millions we will never meet but to whom we are connected all the same.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 1, 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

“There was an audible gasp in the room.”

From The Wall Street Journal ● May 21, 2026

Ivan sucked in a high gasp and clutched at his arm.

From Anya and the Dragon by Sofiya Pasternack

The total eclipse plunged a vast swathe of Spain from broad daylight into darkness Wednesday, drawing awed gasps and applause from spectators gathered in parks and cities across the country.

From Barron's ● Aug. 12, 2026

“No!” she gasps, covering her mouth but unable to hide the mischievous grin that’s broken across her face at the memory.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 10, 2026

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

There were anguished gasps from the crowd as Gauff, in total control of the point, snatched at a drop shot and sent it sinking into the net.

From BBC ● Jul. 9, 2026

Viola gasps even tho she’s got to have guessed it, too.

From "The Knife of Never Letting Go" by Patrick Ness

Members of Atticus' family gasped and wept in the court's public gallery after the verdict was read out.

From BBC ● Jul. 8, 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

But as they rounded the corner, she gasped.

From "Caterpillar Summer" by Gillian McDunn

But the crowd were left gasping in anguish as Gauff, approaching the net, swiped the ball into the tape.

From BBC ● Jul. 9, 2026

In the darkness, partially kneeling, gasping for air and practically immobile, he suffered aftershock after aftershock.

From Barron's ● Jul. 5, 2026

As a result of the physical exertion, the former chef claims that she “became dizzy, began choking and gasping for air, and required assistance from security personnel, who intervened by providing water and aid.”

From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 25, 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

From there, it’s easy enough to haul myself up and a second later I’m once again lying on the top rail, gasping for breath.

From "Water for Elephants" by Sara Gruen

Related Words

• choke
• snort
• whoop